Senior Citizens Have Less Dementia if They Eat
Omega-3 Rich Fish,
Finds 7-Nation Study
Results inconclusive on impact of dementia risk
from eating meat
July 17, 2009 A large study of almost 15,000
senior citizens in seven countries has determined that eating more fish,
which contain omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, results in
older people having less dementia.
Experts estimate that over 24 million people
worldwide suffer from dementia, and many of these people live in low-
and middle-income countries, like those included in this study.
Study finds eating fatty fish once a week reduces
heart failure risk, eating more does not. Omega-3 fatty acid benefits
confirmed, too if taken in the right amounts
Recently, there has been growing interest in
whether dietary factors, particularly oily fish and meat, might
influence the onset and/or severity of dementia. Previous studies, which
have mostly found the same protection from mental decline from fish
consumption, have focused on more urban countries.
The researchers in this study point out, however,
that the previous studies have not all found omega-3 to reduce the
incidence of dementia.
"Oily fish are a rich source of omega-3 longchain
polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPs), which have anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-amyloid, and neuroprotective
properties," according to the study.
There have also been suggestions from some studies
in urban countries that increased meat consumption leads to cognitive
decline, according to the authors of this study in the August issue of
of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A group of international researchers involved in
this study set out to investigate the risk of dementia among people age
65 and older in seven middle- to low-income countries based on their
meat and fish consumption. To our knowledge, the authors write, this
is the largest population-based study on this topic to date from either
developing or developed country samples.
Data from 14,960 participants (≥65 y of age) living
in China, India, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, and
Peru were analyzed. Dietary habits were assessed by using standard,
culturally appropriate face-to-face interviews, and dementia was
diagnosed by using validated culturally and educationally fair criteria.
In each of the study countries, except India, there
was an inverse association between fish consumption and dementia
prevalence the more fish the seniors ate the lower their risk of
dementia, and the less fish they ate the higher their risk of dementia.
These data, the authors say, supports the previous
conclusions from industrialized countries that increased fish
consumption is associated with lower dementia prevalence in later life.
The relation between meat consumption and dementia
remains unclear, they report.
About American Society for
Nutrition
The American Society for Nutrition
(ASN) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together the
world's top researchers, clinical nutritionists and industry to advance
our knowledge and application of nutrition for the sake of humans and
animals. Our focus ranges from the most critical details of research and
application to the broadest applications in society, in the United
States and around the world.
July 17, 2009 A large study of almost 15,000
senior citizens in seven countries has determined that eating more fish,
which contain omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, results in
older people having less dementia.
In each of the study countries, except India, there
was an inverse association between fish consumption and dementia
prevalence the more fish the seniors ate the lower their risk of
dementia, and the less fish they ate the higher their risk of dementia.