Omega-3s protect against brain damage and preserve nerve fibers
Fish oil protects nerve fibers and helps against brain injuries
High concentrations of Omega-3 have a protective effect on the brains of the elderly. High levels of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DPA (docosapentaenoic acid) seem to reduce the risk of silent strokes, small lesions caused by reduced blood flow, and provide greater stability to the nerve fibers that make up the white matter. This was discovered by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland, in a study published in Journal of The American Heart Association, investigating the association between Omega-3 in phospholipid form and brain abnormalities.
Omega-3 make up neuron membranes
Omega-3 are components of neuron membranes, where they have a structural role and ensure their proper function. DHA is one of the most abundant molecules in the central nervous system. It plays an important role in brain and retinal tissue development in the fetus. Numerous studies have also shown that a diet rich in Omega-3 in adults and elderly helps maintain memory and cognitive functions, and is associated with a lower risk of stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by reduced blood flow, which may result from narrowing or blockage of an artery supplying blood to the brain. “Silent stroke” or “silent cerebral infarction” is a small brain lesion probably caused by a clot blocking blood flow. It is often asymptomatic and affects about 20% of healthy adults.
More Omega-3 for a healthier brain
Scientists led by Jyrki Virtanen evaluated data from 3600 subjects aged 65 and over who underwent brain MRI scans between 1992 and 1994. Of this group, 2,313 subjects repeated the exam after five years. Those with a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, or those with incomplete fatty acid data, were excluded from the ongoing study. Plasma samples collected between 1992 and 1993 were analyzed to identify levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipid form. Dividing subjects into groups based on plasma Omega-3 concentrations, researchers demonstrated that elderly people with the highest EPA, DHA, and DPA levels had 40% less chance of silent infarcts compared to those with the lowest concentrations. Subjects with higher Omega-3 levels also showed less white matter alteration, the brain region made up of neuron axons, compared to the group with lower Omega-3 levels.
The importance of an Omega-3 rich diet
The results of this study suggest that in the elderly, a high content of phospholipid-form Omega-3 is associated with a lower prevalence of silent cerebral infarcts and better white matter quality, as seen on MRI. These findings confirm the beneficial effects of fish consumption, the main source of Omega-3, on brain health in old age.
Source: Jyrki K. Virtanen, David S. Siscovick, Rozenn N. Lemaitre, William T. Longstreth, Donna Spiegelman, Eric B. Rimm, Irena B. King, Dariush Mozaffarian. “Circulating Omega‐3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Subclinical Brain Abnormalities on MRI in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study” J. Am Heart Ass. 2013. October 10, 2013, doi: 10.1161/JAHA.113.000305.
