March/April 2006
HEALTH BYTES

Fish boosts mental function

A new study confirms the long-standing reputation of fish as “ brain food. ” In the study, researchers found that older people who eat fish regularly reduce their amount of cognitive decline. Earliers studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids, found in cold-water, fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, are essential for neurocognitive development and normal brain functioning. One omega-3 fatty acid in particular, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has been shown to be crucial for memory; previous studies have also shown that DHA plays a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In this newer study, researchers collected data and food surveys for six year on 6,158 people aged 65 and older. The results showed that the rate of cognitive decline among people who ate the most fish was reduced by 10 percent to 13 percent per year. Researchers suggested that the rate reduction is the equivalent of being three to four years younger in age.