Researchers have completed a study that found the preventive use of fish oil supplements reduced cognitive decline and brain atrophy in older adults. The study at the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at Rhode Island Hospital examined whether there may be a preventive role for fish oil supplement use for declining brain function. The study is about to be published in the coming journal of Alzheimer’s & Dementia with the title Association of fish oil supplement use with preservation of brain volume and cognitive function.
Lead investigator Lori Daiello, PharmD, states”serial brain imaging conducted during this study showed that the participants with normal cognition who reported taking fish oil supplements demonstrated less brain shrinkage in key neurological areas, compared to those who did not use the supplements.”
Study participants were assesses with neuropsychological testing and brain MRIs every 6 months. Among the group participants were 229 people who were cognitively normal, 397 with mild cognitive impairment and 193 with Alzheimer’s Disease. The benefit of fish oil only seen in those who did not have dementia at the beginning of the study.