Daily Fish Oil May Protect Women From Alzheimer’s Disease

Omega-3s – the fatty acids found in certain fish, nuts and seeds – have long been lauded for their health benefits, from boosting brain function to reducing inflammation in the body. Recent research suggests the essential nutrient may also have the power to slow down the ageing process, with the latest study showing it may be particularly beneficial for women, as it can potentially help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Study Finds Omega-3s May Be Even More Important For Women

Women are around twice more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men, but scientists have found upping their omega-3 intake could lower their risk. Omega 3s are a type of unsaturated fat, which has long been associated with boosting brain health. And in a new study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers found unusually low levels of unsaturated fats, including omega fatty acids, in female patients with Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, the low levels weren’t seen in men with Alzheimer’s, indicating that the disease may take hold differently between the two sexes.

Dr Cristina Legido-Quigley, a senior author on the study at King’s College London, said: ‘Our study suggests that women should make sure they are getting omega fatty acids in their diet – through fatty fish or via supplements. However, we need clinical trials to determine if shifting the lipid composition can influence the biological trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease.’

Omega-3s Can Increase Healthspan

Another recent study found omega-3s may help you live a more healthy, long life. A major clinical trial, published in Nature Aging, explored whether certain interventions can extend humans’ healthspan, the period of your life which you spend healthy before declining in old age. The trial involved 777 participants aged over 70 from Switzerland, who were tracked across a three-year period.

Researchers found older people who took one gram of omega-3s every day had aged three months less than others on the trial, with the ageing rate determined using advanced biological tools called epigenetic clocks. Those who also exercised regularly and took vitamin D supplements showed even less signs of ageing.

Heike Bischoff-Ferrari, a clinician-scientist at the University of Zurich and one of the lead authors in the study, said: ‘Omega-3 plays on multiple pathways of ageing, such as being anti-inflammatory. Similarly, vitamin D and exercise have multiple benefits. We thought, if you play on each of these differential pathways, do you get an additive benefit?’

She continued: ‘While the effects may appear small with three to four months rejuvenation of biological age in three years, if sustained, they may have relevant effects on population health.’

The study found other benefits from omega-3s too, including a 10 percent lower rate of falls and 13 percent fewer infections in older people. ‘This is the biggest trial we have today that hints that a simple supplement contributes to slowing biological ageing’, concluded Bischoff-Ferrari.

Which Foods Are High In Omega-3?

Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats that perform important functions in the body. As the body can’t produce them on their own, it’s crucial we get them from our diet. You’ll find them in foods such as:

• Oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovies
• White fish like sea bream and halibut
• Seeds including flaxseeds and chia seeds
• Nuts including walnuts and macadamias
• Beans including kidney beans and edamame

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Although there are no official guidelines, the NHS recommends people eat at least two 140g of fish per week, including one portion of oily fish. If you’re struggling to get enough, omega-3s are also widely available in a supplement known as fish oil – which was used in the aforementioned study.

What Are The Other Benefits Of Omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids offer an abundance of benefits for the body. They have been linked to better heart health, as they lower blood pressure and reduce a type of fat in the blood called triglycerides (high levels improve your chances of having a heart attack). Research has also found this key nutrient can support eye and brain health, as well as improving bone health – therefore reducing your risk of osteoporosis. 

The perks aren’t just physical either: fish oil can also boost mental health, with one study finding eating moderate amounts of fish with omega-3s reduces your risk of depression.