Cheap 9p supplement could protect women against Alzheimer's, study finds – as scientists move ‘step closer to a cure'
Researchers at King's College London and Queen Mary University London found that women with the disease had a noticeable drop in 'healthy' fats and higher levels of 'unhealthy' fats in their blood compared to those without Alzheimer's.
They reckon eating salmon, mackerel or sardines, or taking daily pills, could help to maintain optimum levels and lower the risk of cognitive decline.
Senior author Dr Cristina Legido-Quigley, from KCL, said: 'Our study suggests that women should make sure they are getting omega fatty acids in their diet - through fatty fish or via supplements.'
Scientists examined the blood of 841 people with and without Alzheimer's - the most common type of dementia.
They discovered those with the disease had a considerable loss of 'healthy' unsaturated fats, such as those that contain omega fatty acids, compared to healthy women.
They also noted a steep increase in 'unhealthy' or 'bad' fats in those with Alzheimer's.
There was no difference in these fat molecules between men with and without a diagnosis of Alzheimer's - which researchers say could explain why more women have it.
Dr Legido-Quigley said: "Women are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's disease 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.
"The study reveals that Alzheimer's lipid biology is different between the sexes, opening new avenues for research.
"However, we need clinical trials to determine if shifting the lipid composition can influence the biological trajectory of Alzheimer's."
First author Dr Asger Wretlind, from KCL, added: 'Although this still warrants further research, we were able to detect biological differences between the sexes and show the importance of fat molecules 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.'
Omega-3s are a family of essential fatty acids that help to build and supply energy to cells in the body, particularly in the brain and eyes.
We cannot make them naturally and must get them from our diet.
Salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, herring, oysters, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds and soybeans are all good sources.
Supplements, available in pharmacies and supermarkets for as little as 9p per pill, are also an option.
There is no government recommendation in the UK of how much omega-3 we need, but two 140g portions of fish per week, one of which is oily, is suggested.
Understanding how the disease works differently in women could help doctors tailor future treatments, health advice and bring us a step closer to a cure
Dr Julia DudleyAlzheimer's Research UK
Dr Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'In the UK, two in three people living with dementia are women.
'This could be linked to living longer, or other risk factors like social isolation, education, or hormonal changes from the menopause being at play.
'While this study shows that women with Alzheimer's had lower levels of some unsaturated fats compared with men, further work is needed.
'Understanding how the disease works differently in women could help doctors tailor future treatments and health advice.
'Alzheimer's Research UK is proud to be funding this work that will bring us a step closer to a cure.'
Around 982,000 people live with dementia in the UK; more than 520,000 have Alzheimer's.
About 60 per cent of these people are women.
Experts say the main reason for this is likely due to women living longer, as age is the biggest risk factor for the condition.
The study was published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
While experts have warned that dementia diagnoses in England have reached record numbers, there have been a number of recent advances against brain robbing diseases.
From "game-changing" drugs gaining approval to blood tests that can spot the condition years before symptoms, here are other major Alzheimer's breakthroughs.
A "game-changing" Alzheimer's drug called donanemab, that slows mental decline by up to 60 per cent has been approved in the United States. A UK decision on whether the drug will become available to patients in the UK with early symptoms is expected imminently.
A blood test that detects Alzheimer's up to 15 years before symptoms emerge is set to be made free on the NHS within a year. The new test is cheaper, easier and at least as accurate as the current diagnosis options and works by measuring levels of a protein in the blood called p-tau217.
Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind test that could predict dementia up to nine years before a diagnosis, with 80 per cent accuracy. It involves analysing network of connections in the brain when it's in "idle mode" to look for very early signs of the condition.
Scientists have also put AI to the test, developing machine learning models were able to spot early warning signs of the memory-robbing condition up to seven years before Alzheimer's symptoms appear.
A woman who has evaded Alzheimer's disease despite half her relatives getting it could hold the clues to how to prevent it, with scientists pinpointing a particular gene which they think could help prevent Alzheimer's from progressing.
It comes as a separate study found that children who had a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may have a reduced risk of short sightedness.
The research, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, examined data on 1,005 Chinese children aged between six and eight years, including their eyesight and regular surveys about their diet.
Overall, 28 per cent of children had myopia - the medical name for short sightedness.
Researchers from Hong Kong found that a higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a lower risk of the condition.
Eating more saturated fats, found in foods like butter, palm oil and red meat, could increase the chances of myopia.
Professor Jason Yam, from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, said: "This study provides the human evidence that higher dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intake is associated with shorter axial length and less myopic refraction, highlighting omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as a potential protective dietary factor against myopia development."
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