Common supplement taken by thousands could help protect women against Alzheimer's, research suggests
Scientists revealed today that taking omega fatty acids could help boost the low levels found in women with Alzheimer's disease.
In the first-of-its-kind study, researchers examined how fat molecules that perform essential functions in the body play a different role in the disease according to sex.
Researchers from King's College London and Queen Mary University found that women with Alzheimer's had significantly less unsaturated fats in their blood, compared to healthy women.
Interestingly, there was no significant difference in the same blood fat composition in men with Alzheimer's compared to healthy controls.
Given that lipids play a vital role in maintaining brain health and cognitive function, researchers believe their findings could indicate why more women are diagnosed with the devastating disease.
Writing in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, senior author Dr Cristiana Legido-Quigley said: 'Women are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's and are more often diagnosed with the disease than men after the age of 80.
'One of the most surprising things we saw when looking at the different sexes was that there was no difference in these lipids in healthy and cognitively impaired men, but for women this picture was completely different.'
She added that their findings show that lipid biologist is different between the sexes, opening up new avenues for research.
In the current study, the researchers took blood plasma samples from 841 participants diagnosed with Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairments, and cognitively healthy controls.
The samples were then examined for markers of brain inflammation and damage.
After analysing 700 individual lipids, scientists found that women with Alzheimer's had significantly more 'unhealthy' saturated lipids than women free from the disease.
They also noted that they had significantly less healthy lipids attached with omega fatty acids.
Whilst more clinical trials are needed to confirm a causal link, the researchers say their findings show there is a significant link between the disease and fatty acids.
Dr Legido-Quigley added: 'Our study suggests that women should make sure they are getting omega fatty acids in their diet—through fatty fish or via supplements.'
However she warned further studies are needed to determine whether increasing intake of omega fatty acids before symptoms of Alzheimer's appear can change the biological trajectory of the disease.
Dr Asger Wretlind, first author of the study from KCL said: 'Although this still warrants further research, we were able to detect biological differences in lipids between the sexes in a large cohort, and show the importance of lipids containing omegas in the blood, which has not been done before.
'The results are very striking and now we are looking at how early in life this change occurs in women,' she added.
Two in three people living with dementia in the UK are women.
Whilst experts say this could be a result of women living longer, or other risk factors such as social isolation, education or hormonal changes as a result of the menopause, the findings suggest that lifestyle changes could play a crucial role in the development of the disease.
Dr Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer's UK, said: 'While this study shows that women with Alzheimer's had lower levels of some unsaturated fats compared with men, further work is needed.
'This includes understanding the mechanisms behind this difference and finding out if lifestyle changes, including diet could have a role.'
The charity, which is funding the work, is also calling for further research to focus on a more ethnically diverse population to see whether the same effect is seen across a wider sample size.
Dr Dudley added: 'Understanding how the disease works differently in women could help doctors tailor future treatments and health advice.'
The charity hopes that this crucial research will bring us one step closer to finding a cure for the devastating disease.
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in the UK.
Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's society estimates the overall annual cost of dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt.
An ageing population could see these costs soar to £90billion in the next 15 years.
Around 944,000 in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, while the figure is thought to be around 7million in the US.
Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time.
Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
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