Image courtesy Flickr/Allan Ajifo
I’m seeing lots of science in the news over the past two weeks about the benefits of the omega-3 fats on cognitive function and the risk of dementia. It recalls one of the first studies to show a clear link with some great imaging data.
Middle-aged people with high levels of the beneficial omega-3 fat DHA in their blood did significantly better on memory and reasoning tests in a 2010 study published by The Journal of Nutrition. The most common food sources you can use to boost your DHA is oily fish like salmon and mackerel.
The researchers examined the blood of 280 community volunteers aged 35-54. They wrote that “the findings in this report suggest that DHA may be the omega-3 fatty acid most closely related to cognitive function and this finding is consistent with some prior work on cognitive aging and dementia.”
DHA is important to brain function because it is the most prevalent fat in the membranes of your brain cells. Having more DHA in your diet, means more DHA in your brain. For more on DHA, follow this link to the Farmacy.
