A new study claims people suffering from heart disease can benefit from omega-3 fatty acids as it can help keep their minds sharp as they get older. Researchers have found omega-3 fatty acid supplements helped boost better brain function in people with coronary artery disease, which is a precursor for dementia.
250 people with coronary artery disease were monitored for 30 months for the study. One half of the group took omega-3 supplements, while the rest of the participants were part of the control group. The results showed the supplements helped improve coordination, reaction speed, memory and recollection. The study's findings will be presented at theAmerican Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.
"Other researchers have looked at omega-3 fatty acids in people who already have cognitive impairment or dementia," study author Dr Francine Welty, a cardiologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, told a news portal. Adding, "But the people we looked at were cognitively healthy, and we found there may be a benefit from omega-3 fatty acids before cognitive decline begins."
The team used the highest Food and Drug Administration-approved dose of omega-3 fatty acids for their investigation. "It's really surprising that in 30 months you see that the people who took omega-3 fatty acids did not see a decline in cognitive function and actually saw benefits, compared to those who did not take them," Penny Kris-Etherton, a specialist in cardiovascular nutrition at Penn State University in the College of Health and Human Development, told a news portal. Adding, "This is just one study, and I'd want to see the results reproduced."
Kris-Etherton further explained: "But it does tell us that at this level, omega-3 fatty acids might confer some cognitive benefit."
Adding omega-3 to your diet can have a host of health benefits. More and more research is shedding light on how we can benefit from omega-3. Another study published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Metastasis has found it could slow down the spread of breast cancer cells. "Our study emphasizes the potential therapeutic role of dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in the control of tumour growth and metastasis,"lead author Saraswoti Khadge of the University of Nebraska Medical Centre told a news portal.
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