Could Eating Fish Help in the Alzheimer’s Fight?
The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and including fish in our diet for heart health are well documented, but now an observational study published this week by The Journal of the American Medical Association states that eating fish at least once a week could help in the battle against Alzheimer's disease.
Despite concerns regarding mercury in seafood, Martha Clare Morris, lead author of the study at Rush University Medical Center, told CNN, "The findings were very striking. Our hypothesis was that seafood consumption would be associated with less neuropathology, but that if there were higher levels of mercury in the brain, that would work against that. But we didn't find that at all."
Mayo Clinic neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Dr. Ronald Petersen says, "This study adds to our contention that 'What is good for the heart is good for the brain' but we need to be cautious in generalizing results from observational studies and we still need to be concerned about exposure to excessive mercury." Dr. Petersen adds, "Nevertheless, these data are encouraging in support of the position that lifestyle factors are important in aging."
More informational links:
Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart
Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid
Mayo Clinic Minute: Can Brain Games Help Alzheimer's Disease Patients?
Mayo Clinic Minute: Caring for Those With Alzheimer's Disease