A recent study which was published in the November issue of the Archives of Neurology found that people who consume larger quantities of fish have a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

It appears that the deciding factor is the blood level of DHA (docosanhexaenoic acid), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which is important to proper central nervous system functioning.

High levels of DHA appeared to cut risk of dementia by half in the study. Lead researcher Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer stated “Just as fish is good for your heart, it’s probably good for your brain as well”. The study used data from 899 men and women collected over nine years.

The researchers found that the study participants with the highest DHA levels had a 39 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 47 percent lower risk of dementia, when compared with those with lower levels.

DHA is highest in fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna. The study participants with the highest levels of DHA averaged two to three servings of fish a week. However, if you don’t like fish, you’ll be pleased to know that Dr. Schaefer feels that the same benefits can be attained by taking fish oil supplements. He says “either eat more fish, or use one or two fish oil capsules a day”.

While experts agree that more research is needed to confirm that DHA protects against Alzheimer’s, since we already know that the omega-3 fatty acids protect the heart and circulatory system, eating more fatty fish or taking fish oil capsules seems to be a safe dietary modification for most people.

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