Alzheimer's: Omega-3 and Alpha Lipoic Acid Reduce Cognitive and Functional Decline
Alzheimer’s Disease: Fish Oil and Alpha-Lipoic Acid to Counter Cognitive Decline
Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), in combination with alpha-lipoic acid, can delay the loss of intellectual abilities characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The concurrent intake of these substances appears to have a protective effect on nerve cells and could in the future represent a new treatment to reduce the symptoms of the disease.
This was discovered by a group of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland (USA). The main aim of the study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, was precisely to evaluate the positive effects of the intake of Omega-3 alone and in combination with alpha-lipoic acid.
Omega-3 and lipoic acid, different benefits for the brain
DHA is one of the main constituents of neuronal membranes and is therefore essential for the growth, stability, and function of nervous tissue. Several studies reveal the association between DHA deficiency and neurodegenerative diseases. EPA is found in small amounts in the brain but has a high anti-inflammatory capacity, so it can also protect the nervous system from inflammation. Alpha-lipoic acid, a natural compound found mainly in meat and in small amounts in vegetables, has a strong antioxidant power and can thus protect membrane lipids from oxidation.
Positive effect on cognitive and functional decline
The study involved 39 patients, men and women, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, each of which followed a daily treatment for 12 months. One group received a supplement of 3 grams of concentrated fish oil (containing the equivalent of 975 mg EPA and 675 mg DHA). Another group, in addition to fish oil, took 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid. A third group received only a placebo. Each patient underwent a thirty-question test (Mini Mental State Examination) before and after treatment to assess cognitive impairment. Functional abilities were also analyzed through the IADL scale (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), which quantifies the level of autonomy in daily activities. The results showed that compared to the placebo group, those who had taken both Omega-3 and alpha-lipoic acid showed a delay in cognitive and functional decline. The group treated only with Omega-3, instead, showed a slowdown in the loss of functional abilities only. These results support those of other studies that have demonstrated the beneficial role of alpha-lipoic acid on cognitive decline.
The effect of alpha-lipoic acid
The researchers hypothesize that alpha-lipoic acid may enhance the protective effect of DHA on neurons by reducing the oxidative stress associated with the disease and protecting the fatty acids themselves from oxidation. These mechanisms, together with the anti-inflammatory effects typical of Omega-3, may therefore limit the degeneration of nerve cells. Although the results are encouraging, the study involved a rather small number of participants. Larger clinical trials will therefore be necessary to understand the benefits and mechanisms that will lead to new anti-Alzheimer’s treatments.
