United States – The study done and published on August 1 on JAMA Network Open has it that fish oil supplements may be beneficial for high-risk seniors in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Other studies found that seniors who had genes that predisposed them to Alzheimer’s saw less breakdown of nerve cells in their brains when they took fish oil capsules, as reported by HealthDay.
Targeting APOE4 Gene Carriers
It mainly involved participants who had the APOE4 gene, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and especially early onset. The National Institute on Aging noted that people who possess the APOE4 gene are more likely to develop the condition. In a similar sentiment, Gene Bowman, a neurology instructor with the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, posited importance to these findings saying, “The fact that neuronal integrity breakdown was slowed in people randomized to omega-3 treatment who are also at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease is remarkable and warrants a larger clinical trial in more diverse populations in the future. ”
Limited Impact on General Senior Health
Despite these promising results, the study found that fish oil capsules did not significantly improve the overall health of seniors. Dr. Lynne Shinto, a professor of neurology at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, explained, “Our findings showed that over three years, there was not a statistically significant difference between placebo and the group that took fish oil. I don’t think it would be harmful, but I wouldn’t say you need to take fish oil to prevent dementia.”
Study Design and Findings
They recruited 102 participants, who were over 75 years of age and had low levels of omega-3, the active component in fish oil. The participants did not have dementia or serious systemic medical diseases, and all of them had moderate to high degree of white matter lesion on brain MRI. These lesions can give rise to focal cerebral ischemia which predisposes the brain cells to further dementia.
All the participants were subjected to Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain at baseline and after three years. Some were given fish oil capsules while others were given soybean oil capsules as the control substance. MRIs demonstrated a very minor delay in the progression of white matter lesions in the patients who took fish oil.
However, the study’s most notable finding was that APOE4 carriers taking fish oil experienced a decrease in brain cell integrity breakdown within one year compared to those who took the placebo, as reported by HealthDay.
Innovative Approach to Dementia Prevention
“This is the first dementia prevention trial to use modern prevention tools, such as a blood test and brain scan, to identify not only people at high risk for dementia but also those well-suited to receive a specific nutritional intervention,” Bowman said. Researchers advocate for larger clinical trials to confirm these findings and explore the potential of fish oil supplements in diverse populations.