Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have found the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Those of us whose diets more often include the fats in question (ie consumption of fish, nuts, some seeds) present themselves more
Scientists at the University of Aberdeen have found the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Those of us whose diets include the fats in question more often (ie consumption of fish, nuts, some seeds) perform better on various tests of mental ability.
Alzheimer's disease, currently incurable, begins with short episodes of memory impairment, to severe loss of memory, accompanied by personality changes and inability to lead an independent life.
The study examined 120 people aged 64 years, determined the level of omega-3 fatty acids in the membranes of their blood cells and conducted appropriate intelligence tests. The presence of the APOE e4 gene in participants, known to be at risk for developing the disease at an early age, was further considered.
The results show a clear link between fat and good test performance in the absence of this gene. The higher the level of omega-3 acids, the higher the results and vice versa. Such a correlation is absent in the presence of the gene. In previous studies, the latter was not taken into account, which is why the studies themselves were not informative. It remains to be seen which factors determine the inclusion and exclusion of APOE e4.