I’ve heard fish oil is good for your brain and can even improve your intelligence, is this really true?
A recent study carried out on over 300 people reported those who eat oily fish or take fish oil supplements regularly score 13% higher in IQ tests and are less likely to show early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
We already know that fish oil protects against heart disease and also improves insulin sensitivity in people with a high risk of diabetes, now researchers from Scotland report that consumption of fish oil could actually improve the health of your brain and protect against Alzheimer's. Dementia already affects millions around the world and the threat is increasing with the growing numbers of elderly. Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, afflicts an estimated 4.5 million people in the US alone.
A team from the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh gathered data from people who had taken part in a national IQ survey in 1947, when they were aged 11, and tested them again when they were aged 64. The researchers used a questionnaire to find out about omega-3 levels from the subjects' diet and supplement use, and tested their plasma levels of omega-3.
The researchers report that cognitive function in the 64-year-olds was higher if they were fish oil supplement users than if they did not take supplements. The big difference was found in mental speed.
The brains of fish oil users seemed to be faster. There was a strong relationship between mental test scores and the omega-3 content in the blood. In fact, the results suggested that those who supplemented with fish oil had younger brains than those who did not.
Source: American Journal of Clin Nutrition
Dr Paul Cribb is the creator of mp-body.com – the first ever science-based, research-proven, nationally accredited body transformation program.