By David Liu,PHD

Sunday July 22, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as cold water fish and walnuts may reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study published online Wednesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study showed that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids was associated with lower blood levels of a biomarker beta-amyloid related to Alzheimer's disease and memory problems.

For the study, researchers surveyed dietary information including 10 nutrients, saturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mono- unsaturated fatty acid, vitamin E, C, D, B12, beta-carotene, and folate for an average of 1.2 years.   They also tested blood samples from 1,219 people older than age 65, free of dementia at baseline for beta-amyloid.

It was found that high intake of omega-3 fatty acids  was linked with lower blood levels of beta-amyloid. Specifically, consuming one gram of omega-3 per day or about half a fillet of salmon per week more than the average omega-3 intake was associated with 20 to 30 percent lower levels of blood beta-amyloid.

Other nutrients were not associated with plasma beta-amyloid levels. The results held true after adjustment for age, education, gender, ethnicity, amount of calories and a participant's status of the APOE gene, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease, a major form of dementia that strikes people often aged 65 or older, is deadly and believed to affect 6 million American people. There is no cure for the disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in walnuts, flaxseed, eggs and cold water fish.  Not all omega-3 fatty acids are the same.  Omega 3 fatty acids supplements are available.