Recent research shows that fish oil benefits prevent Alzheimer’s and give you a bigger brain. People with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can have bigger brain volumes at a later age. The method may be equivalent to preserving one or two years of brain health. Eating more fish may help you have a bigger brain and better protection from Alzheimer’s.
Shrinking brain veins are a sign of Alzheimer’s. In a recent study, it was highly advised to eat fish at least twice a week, including one portion of oily fish. The key omega-3 fatty acid is docosahexaenoic acid, which is supposed to support nerve cells communicating with each other.
The richest source is oily fish such as herring, mackerel, and sardines. The study was conducted on 1,111 women who were part of the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study. After 8 years, women were aged around 78. Thus, MRI scans were taken to measure their brain volume. Those with higher levels of omega-3s had bigger total brain volumes eight years later. And those with double as high levels of fatty acids (7.5 vs. 3.4%) had a 0.7% bigger brain volume, with the increase measuring up to two inches.
The lower levels of fatty acids were linked to smaller brains. It is important to achieve a higher level of fatty acids through a diet. The use of supplements and their effect on brain volume is equivalent to delaying the normal loss of brain cells that comes with aging by 1 or 2 years. The higher levels of omega-3s also had a 2.7% bigger volume in the hippocampus area, the brain’s key memory center.
In Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus starts to shrink even before symptoms appear. The study suggests the higher tissue reserve of omega-3 fatty acids may slow the loss of cognitive function that can accompany brain atrophy. The higher omega-3 tissue levels obtained by dietary changes are actually This may help delay cognitive aging and dementia. ’ So far, the best dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish because the human body cannot yield omega-3 fatty acids.
Moreover, white fish is also a healthy food, including cod, haddock, and salmon, though it contains lower levels of vital fatty acids. Also, fish oil supplements are highly recommended as protection against heart attacks and unexpected death. Consistent fish eaters are a third more likely to survive a heart attack. Omega-3 fats work in numerous ways to decrease heart attack risk by cutting blood fats. Also sinking the chances of a blood clot and blocking dangerous heart rhythms that might otherwise prove fatal.
Now it is well known that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils may decrease inflammation of the brain. They play a part in brain development and nerve cell regeneration. There has been diverse evidence as to the benefits of omega-3 fish oils on the brain and whether they may defend against memory decline and dementia.
The study advises that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood are linked to bigger brain size, but the likely reasons for this association need further investigation. When considering the benefits of fish oil for various health concerns, you may wonder how long it takes to see results. To learn more about the timeline for experiencing the effects of fish oil, check out this informative article on SmarterVitamins.
The brain gets smaller in people with dementia. But it is unclear from the study what effect larger brain size would have on memory and thinking in the volunteers or if there is a long-term risk of developing dementia. The right way to measure whether omega-3 could protect against dementia is through a clinical trial. So far, trials of omega-3 supplementation have not shown benefits in protecting against cognitive decline.
Brain shrinkage can be linked to dementia, and bigger brain volumes could indicate a better ability to cope with the ravages of the condition, but it’s a big leap to draw this conclusion. While interesting, this study still leaves us in the dark about what effect eating fish has on the development of dementia. So, it is highly suggested to take the fish oil benefits.
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