US study shows that Omega-3 don't improve brain power

A new US study has revealed that there is no difference in memory and thinking test scores based on levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. If you eat a lot of fish or take fish oil supplements hoping to boost your brain health, a new study has disappointing findings for you. The study, published online earlier Wednesday in the journal Neurology, found no difference in memory and thinking test scores based on levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. "We looked at the association of blood biomarkers of [omega-3 fatty acids] and measure of cognitive thinking function and found no statistically significant association between baseline levels or over time," said the study's lead author, Eric Ammann, a doctoral candidate in the department of epidemiology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. However, this study's findings run counter to other research that has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can help protect the ageing brain. A study published in the February 2012 issue of Neurology suggested that middle-aged and elderly people who regularly ate foods rich in omega-3s scored better on tests of visual memory, attention and abstract thinking compared to those who consumed fewer omega-3 foods. The study also found that people who consumed less omega-3s tended to have smaller brain volume overall than those who ate more omega-3 foods. There are plausible biological mechanisms for why omega-3s might improve brain health, according to background information in the current study. One particular omega-3, called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is a structural component of brain tissue, the study authors noted. DHA also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may slow deterioration in the brain.