Omega-3 Fats May Be Key to Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

(ACN) A study conducted by the Barcelona Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pascual Maragall Foundation Research CenterThis has been demonstrated, in collaboration with the Del Mar Hospital Research Institute. Regular consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fats – Such as nuts, soy or blue fish – It may be key to preventing dementia associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The results showed that these fats It increases the brain’s ability to metabolize glucose. necessary for his work, even if the first damages related to the disease have already occurred.

The search starts from this basis. Before the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appearYes, hello there Certain areas of the brain have difficulty metabolizing glucose.“This is important because it is the organ that the body uses the most,” said Alex Sala-Vila, study author and a member of the Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, a BBRC collaborator.

He pointed out in this regard that Omega 3 contributes to the proper functioning of receptors necessary for glucose uptake in the brain.These fats are incorporated into cell membranes and thus facilitate the continuous use of glucose. This is why the researcher detailed that “Incorporating these omega-3s into the diet could be beneficial in terms of having a brain that is resistant to the changes that occur before the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Study based on analysis of 320 volunteers

The study included data from 320 volunteers. This is a cognitively healthy population, Without clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s diseaseBut they are often descended from people who have the disease, and therefore have a high genetic risk of developing it.

The results revealed that plant-based omega-3 (provided, for example, by Foods like soybeans or soybeans) are associated with better utilization of brain glucose, especially in participants with a high genetic risk (carriers of the APOE-e4 gene). On the other hand, omega-3 of marine origin (From blue fish) is most beneficial in people who, despite not showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, have already begun to accumulate the proteins characteristic of the disease (amyloid and tau).