Fatty fish

 

How Fatty Fish Protect against Alzheimer's Disease

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil, increases the production of LR11, a protein that destroys beta-amyloid protein, which forms the plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. LR11 is known to be present at very low levels in Alzheimer's patients. Scientists at UCLA's Alzheimer Disease Research Center looked at the effects of adding fish oil or DHA alone to the diet of animals genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease, as well as administering DHA directly to animal and human neurons (brain cells) cultivated in the lab. Even very low doses of dietary DHA significantly increased LR11 levels. J Neurosci. 2007 Dec 26;27(52):14299-307.

As a result of these findings, the National Institutes of Health has begun a large-scale clinical trial with DHA in patients with well established Alzheimer's disease. Lead researcher, Greg Cole, associate director of UCLA's Alzheimer Disease Research Center, thinks it may be too late for DHA to benefit these patients, but that DHA is highly likely to benefit patients in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's.

And, we would add, help prevent the development of the disease in the rest of us!

DHA is the most abundant essential fatty acid in the brain, is crucial for healthy brain development, and low levels have been linked to cognitive impairment. According to the national Alzheimer's Association, approximately 5.1 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a number that is projected to increase to 11 to 16 million sufferers by 2050. Enjoying several weekly servings of fish high in DHA, such as wild salmon or sardines, is a smart move.

Ma QL, Teter B, Ubeda OJ, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid increases SorLA/LR11, a sorting protein with reduced expression in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD): relevance to AD prevention. J Neurosci. 2007 Dec 26;27(52):14299-307. PMID: 18160637