Eat Baked or Broiled Fish To Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease

This story comes from MSNBC on Aging.

A new Study suggests eating fish may keep the brain healthy and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

In the study, people who ate baked or broiled fish at least once a week had larger volumes of gray matter in areas of the brain known to be involved in memory and learning. Moreover, people with larger volumes in these areas reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease five-fold over a five year period.


People who ate fried fish, on the other hand, did not gain protection against Alzheimer's.

The findings suggest lifestyle choices can ward off Alzheimer's disease, said study researcher Dr. Cyrus Raji, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Gray matter is important for the brain's ability to function, and decreases in gray matter volume indicate the brain is shrinking, Raji said.

Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids, which may benefit the brain and protect against Alzheimer's disease, Raji said. Omega-3s improve blood flow to the brain, which in turn delivers more oxygen and nutrients to brain cells. In addition, omega-3s reduce inflammation in the brain, and can protect against the buildup of the amyloid plaques thought to be the cause of Alzheimer's disease, Raji said.

Source: MSNBC Aging