foodconsumer.org: Fish and omega-3 don't reduce dementia risk

Fish and omega-3 don't reduce dementia risk
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admin on 08/15/2009 20:01:00
 
By David Liu (davidl@foodconsumer.org)
A new study in the July 2009 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
suggests that eating fish including omega-3 fatty acids loaded oily fish may not
reduce risk of dementia in older people.
High intake of fish and omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may reduce
dementia risk, previous studies suggest. But studies are consistent.
The current study led by  Devore EE and colleagues from Erasmus Medical Center
in Rotterdam, Netherlands was meant to examine the association between fish
consumption and risk of dementia.
For the study, Devore and team followed 5395 men and women aged 55 or older who
were free of dementia prior to the entrance of the study.
Dietary intake of fish (none, low and high) and the type of fish consumed (one,
lean and fatty) were recorded.
During the follow-up of 9.6 years, 465 participants were diagnosed with
dementia.
The participants who had high intakes of fish or fatty fish had a similar risk
for dementia compared to those who ate no fish.  Dietary intakes of omega-3
PUFAs were not linked o dementia risk either.
The researchers concluded "In this Dutch cohort, who had a moderate consumption
of fish and omega-3 PUFAs, these dietary factors do not appear to be associated
with long-term dementia risk."
One major form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease which may affect as many as
5 millions of Americans.