According to a report in the prestigious journal Neurology, the brain-health credentials of those precious omega 3 fats just received yet another boost. For this study, researchers measured the blood levels of omega 3 fats in 1,111 elderly women and measured the size of their brains with MRI scans 8 years later. Women who had the highest blood levels of omega 3 fats had significantly larger brain volumes 8 years later vs. those with the lowest levels of these vital-for-brain-health fats.
The researchers also noted that the bigger brain volumes in those with highest omega 3 blood levels were particularly striking in the area of the brain called the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the brain’s memory center and loss of volume in this key brain region occurs very early in the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia—even before symptoms appear.
Omega 3 fats are your brain’s highest quality building material and play an essential role in both optimal brain structure and optimal brain function. Tragically, most Americans, especially children, have woefully insufficient intakes. Oily fish like salmon are the richest food sources of omega 3 fats and appear to be a SUPERIOR source relative to fish oil supplements. Personally, I strive to eat 5 servings of oily fish, preferably wild salmon, each week to achieve an optimal intake. (Neurology, 2014; DOI:10.1212/WNL.0000000000000080)
