Study Warns Omega-3 Supplements May Accelerate Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
A recent study published in The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease suggests that omega-3 supplements, commonly believed to protect cognitive function, may actually accelerate cognitive decline in individuals with genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. The research, conducted by a team from the Army Medical University in China, analyzed data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), involving over 800 participants. Approximately half of these participants carried the APOE ε4 gene, a known risk factor for dementia. The study found that those taking omega-3 supplements experienced a faster decline in cognitive scores, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), compared to those who did not take the supplements. Interestingly, this decline was not linked to traditional Alzheimer's biomarkers like plaques or tangles but was instead associated with changes in neuronal synaptic function.