If you want to send a nutrient right to your brain that has the potential to protect against Alzheimer’s, researchers in Sweden have identified a natural substance that helps brain cells dodge harmful inflammation.
Several studies at the Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden show that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can help limit destructive processes in the brain that may lead to Alzheimer’s. In one study, the omega-3 fats reduced agitation in Alzheimer’s patients who carried a gene making them more susceptible to the brain-destroying disease. At the same time, in people without that gene, the fish oil helped alleviate depression.
The scientists have also uncovered evidence that the omega-3 fats consistently cross the blood-brain barrier to convey benefits. Their studies demonstrate that fish oil supplements may be helpful for people trying to protect their brains from Alzheimer’s and in people who already have developed the disease.
