Compiled | Gongzi Xin
Source | Alzheimer's Research Uk
Cerebrovascular diseases, which involve damage to blood vessels in the brain, are risk factors for vascular dementia and stroke. Recently, French researchers found a link between eating more fish and reducing the risk of cerebrovascular diseases. The study was published in the journal Neurology.
Researchers from the University of Bordeaux in France analyzed data from the Three City Study, a large study on the relationship between vascular disease and dementia. ）
The study involved 1623 participants over the age of 65 (mean age 72.3 years, 63 percent female) with no history of stroke, cardiovascular disease or dementia, and the researchers analyzed their MRI scans, including hyperinflection of white matter, visual detection of hidden infarction, and grading of dilated space around blood vessels. Participants also filled out a questionnaire about eating habits.
Depending on how often they ate fish, participants were divided into four groups: eat fish once a week<, about 1 time per week, 2-3 times a week, and eat > 4 or more times a week. The researchers compared the number of vascular disease symptoms in each group of people.
In MRI scans, participants who reported eating more fish had fewer signs of brain damage than those who ate fewer fish.
The relationship between fish intake and vascular disease was stronger in the 65-69 age group compared to the older people in the study, while there was no significant correlation between the two in the 75+ population.
Dr Rosa Sancho, head of the Alzheimer's Research Centre in the UK, said: "For most people, the risk of developing dementia depends on the complex interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Understanding which aspects of our lifestyles have the greatest impact on brain health is key to allowing people to make informed decisions about how to live.
Observational studies like this cannot determine causation. While researchers have tried to control for other factors that may have contributed to differences in signs of cerebrovascular disease, it is difficult to determine that these factors are related to the amount of fish in people's diets. Because the participants underwent a brain scan and reported on their eating habits at a certain point in time, it's unclear how these findings correlate with long-term brain health.
The NHS recommends eating 2 servings of fish per week as part of a balanced diet. We know that fat-rich fish are an important source of fatty acids, but no particular food or supplement is likely to be the key to maintaining brain health.
"Studies have shown that what is good for the heart tends to also benefit the brain, taking steps to control blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking, drinking only within the recommended range, and an active lifestyle, all of which are associated with healthier brains as we age."
References:
https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2021/11/03/WNL.0000000000012916