Several
observational studies have ascertained the fact that low serum DHA is a
significant risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment
as well as Alzheimer’s disease. The development of Alzheimer’s
disease has been attributed to the development of and pathologic
accumulation of β-amyloid in the brain. This detrimental accumulation
of β-amyloid leads to oxidative stress and neuronal
destruction. In animal models, DHA has been shown to have a protective
effect against the development of impaired learning ability in
β-amyloid infused rats by decreasing the levels of lipid peroxide and
reactive oxygen species in the cortico-hippocampal
tissues as well as eliminating the amyloid burden from brain
tissue.
A
prospective study of 899 patients showed that patients who had higher plasma DHA levels had
a statistically significant 47% reduction in the risk of developing all-cause dementia and
39% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease when
compared to those patients with lower DHA levels. Additional
studies also indicate that high intake of PUFAs from consumption of fish
was associated with better overall cognitive function
and reduced speed of cognitive decline in patients between the ages of
45-70 years. Another prospective study showed that patients between
the ages of 65 to 94 years who consumed fish once per week or more had
60% less risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared
with those who rarely or never ate fish. The Rotterdam study,
conducted in the early 1990s on 7,046 patients, which assessed the
incidence and risk of dementia suggested that consumption of high
saturated fat and cholesterol increases the risk of dementia,
while consumption of fish may decrease this risk.Make sure you are consuming adequate amounts of Omega 3s that contain DHA and/or eating fatty fish that contains DHA to optimize your brain health. I recommend my patients use Cardio Tabs Omega 3 supplements as they are high in DHA and come from leading experts of Omega 3 marine oils. These Omega 3 supplements exceed traditional quality standards. Check out www.cardiotabs.com if you are looking for quality omega 3 supplements. Use code MPR5111 for a one time discount of your online order.
