Omega 3 fatty acids have become–in relative terms–an instant classic in the area of heart health, but research is increasingly aimed at the examination of cognitive function in relation to Omega 3s. It has been investigated in regards to ADHD and shown potential, and these encouraging results in regard to mental focus led to curiosity about any effects of these healthy fats on the physical structure of the brain, in addition to it’s maintenance and proper function.
For this particular study, conducted at UCLA, 1,575 people with an average age of 67 and judged as free of dementia underwent MRI brain scans in order to assess physical qualities such as overall brain mass and hippocampal volume. They were also given tests that measured mental function, body mass and the omega-3 fatty acid levels in their red blood cells.
The researchers found that people whose DHA (docosahexanenoic acid) levels were among the lowest 25 percent of the participants also displayed lower brain volume compared to people who had higher DHA levels. In a corresponding manner, participants with levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in the bottom 25 percent also scored lower on tests of visual memory and executive function, such as problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.
“People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging,” said study author Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH, of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and the Division of Geriatrics, University of California at Los Angeles. The researchers went on to conclude that there is an association with lower levels of DHA and smaller brain volume accompanied by what was described as a “vascular” pattern of impaired cognitive function.
For this particular study, conducted at UCLA, 1,575 people with an average age of 67 and judged as free of dementia underwent MRI brain scans in order to assess physical qualities such as overall brain mass and hippocampal volume. They were also given tests that measured mental function, body mass and the omega-3 fatty acid levels in their red blood cells.
The researchers found that people whose DHA (docosahexanenoic acid) levels were among the lowest 25 percent of the participants also displayed lower brain volume compared to people who had higher DHA levels. In a corresponding manner, participants with levels of all omega-3 fatty acids in the bottom 25 percent also scored lower on tests of visual memory and executive function, such as problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.
“People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain aging,” said study author Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH, of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and the Division of Geriatrics, University of California at Los Angeles. The researchers went on to conclude that there is an association with lower levels of DHA and smaller brain volume accompanied by what was described as a “vascular” pattern of impaired cognitive function.
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Our joints (like the elbows and knees) are surrounded by a membrane called
the synovial membrane which forms a capsule around the ends of the two
articulating bones. This membrane secretes a liquid called the synovial fluid.
Synovial fluid is a viscous fluid with the consistency of motor oil. It has many
functions, but none more than providing the elastic shock absorbing properties
of the joint. Its second most important function in the joint is to carry
nutrients to the cartilage and to also remove waste from the joint capsule.
