Saturday, December 25, 2010

Study confirms fish rumors and dementia

A new study confirms the long-established belief that eating fish on a regular basis would keep the risk of dementia at bay among older adults.

According to the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, elderly living in developing countries such as China and India who are used to eating fish frequently are less prone to dementia.

A diet rich in meat, however, is linked with a higher risk of dementia.

The risk of developing the illness is negatively associated with the fish consumption, indicating that the risk declines as fish consumption rises.

The omega-3 fatty acid -- abundantly found in oily fish like salmon, mackerel and albacore tuna -- is considered as the main compound responsible for protecting nerve cells, limiting the inflammatory processes and subsequently preventing the formation of the amyloid proteins, characteristic for Alzheimer's disease and dementia.