Omega-3 supplements are being touted as a therapy for early onset Alzheimer’s disease after a small study found they reduced inflammation in neurological tissues.
We’ve known for a long time that omega-3 fatty acids and some antioxidants can be beneficial to people with a wide range of health problems. Now we know that the effects of these supplements may extend to Alzheimer’s disease as well.
This is described in a report published in the July 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal. The report describes the findings of a very small study in which people with mild clinical impairment, such as those in the very early stages of the disease, saw a significant reduction of the inflammation in neurological tissues.
The study led by researchers at the University of California’s Department of Surgery in Los Angeles, Calif., involved 12 patients with minor cognitive impairment, two patients with pre-mild cognitive impairment, and seven patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The participants were given a diet supplemented with Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants for four to 17 months.
The researchers found adequate clearance of amyloid plaques, which are the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings suggest that further clinical studies of this relatively inexpensive and plentiful supplement should be conducted.
Even though supplements such as omega-3 and the other antioxidants are generally safe and easy to obtain, more thorough clinical trials need to be done to confirm the findings of this research to figure out which stage of Alzheimer’s disease can benefit most from these supplements,