Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid that may improve brain function and development in all stages of life.
Omega-3 fish oil supplements may improve memory in those with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s disease.
Fish oil is a popular over-the-counter supplement extracted from fatty fish like sardines, anchovies, mackerel and salmon.
Fish oil primarily contains two types of omega-3 fatty acids — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are well known for their heart health and skin benefits.
However, fish oil also has an incredible impact on the brain, especially when it comes to mild memory loss and depression.
How Do Omega 3s Affect Your Brain ?
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are critical for normal brain function and development throughout all stages of life.
These fatty acids are also vital for the maintenance of normal brain function throughout life. They are abundant in the cell membranes of brain cells, preserving cell membrane health and facilitating communication between brain cells
In older adults, lower levels of DHA in the blood have been associated with smaller brain size, a sign of accelerated brain aging.
Clearly, it is important to make sure you get enough omega-3 fatty acids to avoid some of these detrimental effects on brain function and development.
However, studies show that fish
Oil does not improve brain function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Research does suggest that people with MCI or mild declines in brain
Functions may receive the most benefits from taking fish oil.
Omega 3 & Effects on Depression.
Fish Oil May Improve Depression. Finding treatments for depression and other mental health disorders continues to be a public health priority, and the desire for non-medicinal interventions to improve symptoms will likely increase.
People have long thought that fish oil is linked to improvements in mental health, but does the research back up this claim? A recent review of clinical studies concluded that taking fish oil supplements improved depressive symptoms in people with depression, with effects comparable to those of antidepressant medications.
However, the greatest improvements in depressive symptoms seemed to occur in people who were also taking antidepressants. Additionally, people tended to see greater effects when the fish oil supplement contained higher doses of EPA.
It is still unclear how EPA and omega-3s improve depressive symptoms. Researchers have suggested it may be related to their effects
On serotonin and serotonin receptors in the brain. Others have proposed that omega-3s from fish oil could improve depressive symptoms through anti-inflammatory effects.
In summary: People with depression or a mild decline in brain function could consider taking 1,000–2,000 mg of omega-3s from fish oil daily. Because fish oil supplements can affect blood clotting, talk to your doctor before you start taking them.
In Summary
EPA and DHA are omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil that are vital for normal brain function and development.
People with depression or a mild decline in brain function should consider taking omega-3s from fish oil, as they may see improvements in their symptoms and brain function.
Unfortunately, research has shown that fish oil has no effects in people with normal brain function or those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Taking 1,000–2,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil per day may be a good place to start. Your daily dose should not exceed 3,000 mg.
Although fish oil is typically praised for its benefits for heart health, it also has incredible effects on brain and mental health that are worthy of some attention.