Published on May 24, 2012 at 4:48 AM
According to a recent study published online in Neurology,
Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in Omega XL fish oil extract
containing DHA and EPA from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, may
provide more benefits for elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's.
According to the study, Researchers for the Neurology study
examined the health and diet of 1,219 people, 65 years of age, who did
not have dementia. The individuals were part of the Washington
Heights/Hamilton Heights Columbia Aging Project.
Data show that consuming one gram of omega-3 fatty acids each day
(equivalent to eating about half a filet of salmon) is associated with
20% to 30% lower blood beta-amyloid levels. According to
the study authors, in Alzheimer's disease, those protein fragments are
thought to accumulate in the brain and form plaque. The plaque
contributes to nerve cell damage in the brain and leads to the symptoms
The brain itself is made up mostly of fatty acids; the most
predominant, making up 40% of these fatty acids, is Docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA), the other is Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA and
DHA are referred to as omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). Omega-3
EFAs have been found to have significant health benefits, especially for
Other studies have reported that long-term treatment of EPA
improved an age-related reduction in blood flow in the brain and
increased glucose metabolism.