Adding Fish to Your Diet May Ward Off Alzheimer’s

Consuming baked or broiled fish at least once per week could help stave off Alzheimer’s disease, according to the findings of a new study recently presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms often develop slowly and become more severe over time, to the point of interfering with daily tasks. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Sadly, the disease affects as many as 5.1 million Americans.
While previous research has suggested that including fish in one’s diet may have brain-boosting effects, the latest study from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center suggests that consuming non-fried fish can battle against the brain shrinkage and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s.
In a statement regarding the results of the study, lead study author Dr. Cyrus Raji noted, “We found higher levels of working memory in people who ate baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis, even when accounting for other factors, such as education, age, gender and physical activity.”
The study by university researchers was the first to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to support its findings. To arrive at their conclusions, the researchers tracked 260 adults having normal cognitive function over a decade. Based on questionnaire data, 163 of the participants consumed fish on a weekly basis, with the majority eating fish one to four times per week.
The brain volume and memory function of each study participant was measured via MRI at both the start and end of the analysis. The findings revealed that those subjects who consumed more fish possessed better memory function and larger brain areas, including the posterior cingulated and the orbital frontal cortex, as well as the hippocampus, which is known to shrink in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.source-healthnews