Monday, November 8, 2010

Study on fish-oil isn't able to find advantage for Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease treatments using omega-3 supplements were proven ineffective in a study released Tuesday. Outcomes of clinical trials were released showing that omega-3 fatty acid supplements did not slow the mental deterioration of Alzheimer’s. Omega-3 fish-oil has been touted as a treatment for Alzheimer's because individuals with a diet rich in fish demonstrate a lesser tendency to suffer from dementia. Resource for this article – Omega-3 fish oil fails to slow Alzheimer’s, study says by Personal Money Store.

Results from Omega-3 supplements are not enough

Placebo and Omega-3 fish oil have the exact same impact. This is what the Journal of the American Medical Association research suggests. Subjects that had mild to reasonable Alzheimer's disease were given a daily dose of either omega-3 fatty acid supplements or a placebo in a double-blind experiment. There were 18 months of patients being monitored. At the end of the study period scientists assessed the subjects’ cognitive ability and conducted MRI scans of their brains. The brain volume and cognitive ability in both groups stayed the very same.

Nevertheless considering connection with Alzheimer's and fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids became a popular supplement for brain health after studies showing people from cultures with a diet rich in fish tend to suffer Alzheimer’s disease at a lower rate. Though the omega-3 study disproves that notion, it didn’t set out to prove whether fish oil may benefit brain health at a younger age. Symptoms of dementia don't just show up one day with the disease. The disease is usually there a long time before hand. The dementia may be easier to avoid if taking Omega-3 years before Alzheimer's hits.

Experts should be cautious with proceeding

Alzheimer’s therapies aren't proven to work at all. This is what a group of experts on cognitive development and decline on the National Institutes of Health said. Programs like memory training, not eating saturated fats, eating more fruits and vegetables and rigorous exercise have no scientific facts behind them. These programs do not have any evidence, which means they might still work. The omega-3 fish-oil theory had been proved wrong though with Alzheimer's disease meaning it is totally ineffective.

Citations

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/04/cognitive-decline-alzheimers-prevention.html

CNN

cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/02/health.fish.oil.alzheimers/index.html?npt=NP1

Medical News Today

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206436.php



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