Eating fish may help protect against cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Higher fish consumption was linked to an 18% reduced risk of cognitive impairment, with the most significant reduction observed in people who ate around 150 grams (about 5.3 ounces) of fish per day.

I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-024-02823-6

From the linked article:

A recent meta-analysis published in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that eating fish may help protect against cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that people who reported eating the most fish were less likely to experience cognitive impairment or decline compared to those who ate the least. However, the findings were strongest for cognitive decline, while more research is needed to firmly establish the link between fish consumption and dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Fish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, has long been thought to benefit brain health. Omega-3s are known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help protect the brain from the damage that contributes to cognitive decline. Previous studies have suggested that eating fish is linked to a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases, but the evidence has been somewhat inconsistent, particularly regarding specific conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This new study aimed to update and clarify the current evidence on the association between fish consumption and cognitive health.

The study found that people who ate the most fish were significantly less likely to experience cognitive decline or impairment compared to those who ate the least. Specifically, the highest fish consumers had an 18% lower risk of cognitive impairment or decline.

The researchers also looked at whether there was a dose-response relationship, meaning whether eating more fish led to progressively greater benefits. They found that higher fish consumption was linked to a reduced risk of cognitive impairment, with the most significant reduction observed in people who ate around 150 grams (about 5.3 ounces) of fish per day.

Notes

– the goal is to balance omega 3 and omega 6. Ancient diets provided a balance of both. Modern food is awash in omega 6 oils, throwing us out of balance. Reducing your omega 6 can help as much as increasing your omega 3.

– fish get omega 3 from the seaweed they eat. Farmed fish are mostly fed the same omega 6 rich sources we eat and are not a good source of omega 3 oil.

– you can eat seaweed sources directly.

Great. I’ll go catch the last one. What do we eat when we’re finished with that one?

Now link to the study about mercury poisoning from eating much fish