Omega-3 - Keep Your Brain from Getting Old
Learn how Omega-3 can cut your risks of getting dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
Can Omega-3 prevent or slow the effects of aging on your brain? Scientists think so. After a recent study, scientists now have proof that Omega-3 and its essential fatty acids can indeed slow down and prevent your brain from aging in two ways.
Dementia
One of the first signs of an aging brain is dementia. Dementia is an illness, usually associated with old age that involves problems with memory, attention span, language, and being able to solve problems. Dementia occurs when cell membranes break down and neurons no longer function properly.
Researchers believe with the proper amounts of DHA circulating in your blood, your body can use it to repair neuronal damage and prevent memory loss.(1)
Alzheimer's Disease
Another illness associated with aging is Alzheimer's disease. The most common symptoms of Alzheimer's are confusion, mood swings, long-term memory loss, aggression, and language problems. Researchers believe plaques in the brain cause Alzheimer's and these plaques are preventable to a certain extent by proper amounts of Omega-3.
DHA is one of the three essential fatty acids that make up Omega-3. When your body gets enough DHA, it collects in your brain and increases brain cell survival time and prevents the formation of amyloid beta plaque (2).
Prevent Brain Aging
One way to ensure the health of your brain and to fight against dementia and Alzheimer's is to have the right levels of Omega-3 daily. The best way to do this is to increase the amount of Omega-3 in your diet. You can do this by adding fish to your diet at least two times per week or by eating 1/4 cup of walnuts daily.
Adding healthy foods, high in Omega-3 to your diet is a natural way to increase your essential fatty acids and protect your brain from aging and something you can do at any time. If you don't like fish, consider taking a fish oil supplement daily to increase your intake of Omega-3. While Omega-3 supplements are natural and are a good way to increase your Omega-3, it's always to talk to your doctor first.
(1) How Omega-3 keeps your brain from getting old. http://www.jnutbio.com/article/S0955-2863(09)00026-6/abstract
(2) How Omega-3 and DHA work together.
