A new study suggests that women may be able to protect themselves from Alzheimer’s disease by consuming omega fatty acids found in fish or taking supplements. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 841 people, including 306 with Alzheimer’s and 370 healthy individuals, and found that women with the disease had lower levels of certain unsaturated fats compared to men without the disease. The study, published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, highlights the importance of lipids containing omega fatty acids for preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s.
The researchers, from King’s College London and Queen Mary University London, also noted a steep increase in saturated lipids in women with Alzheimer’s compared to healthy women. However, there was no such difference between men with and without the disease. The study suggests that women should aim to get more omega fatty acids in their diet through fish or supplements.
The findings are significant, as Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately affects women, who are more often diagnosed with the disease than men after the age of 80. Researchers believe that understanding how lipids containing omega fatty acids may influence the progression of Alzheimer’s could lead to new avenues for research and potentially inform lifestyle changes, such as dietary adjustments, that could help prevent or slow the disease.
While the study is promising, more work is needed to confirm its findings and determine whether shifting lipid composition can influence the biological trajectory of Alzheimer’s. Further research is underway to explore this possibility.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/omega-3-benefits-alzheimers-dementia-symptoms-b2810863.html