FISH CONSUMPTION PROTECTS AGAINST AGE RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE.

“Dietary intake of fish and the omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with lower risk of Alzheimer disease and stroke,” says Martha Clare Morris, ScD, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, and colleagues. “Dietary intakes of the omega-3 fatty acids, and especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for neurocognitive development and normal brain functioning.” The Chicago Health and Aging Project followed up residents of a Chicago community who were 65 years and older to examine whether fish intake protects against age-related cognitive decline. Compared with a decline rate in score among persons who consumed fish less than weekly, the rate was 10% slower among persons who consumed 1 fish meal per week, and 13% slower among persons who consumed 2 or more fish meals per week. “This study suggests that eating one or more fish meals per week may protect against cognitive decline associated with older age,” concluded the authors. (Morris, M.C., Evans, D.A., et al., “Fish consumption and cognitive decline with age in a large community study.” Arch Neurol. 2005;62:1849-1853.)