According to a new report published in the July 2015 issue of leading biology publication The FASEB Journal, a small study recently discovered that omega-3 supplements and antioxidants can help those who are in the very early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.
Recent statistics from 2014 estimate that just over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, affecting one out of every nine people over the age of 65. The disease is commonly diagnosed when a person reaches their early or mid 60s, with an average life expectancy of three to nine years after the diagnoses is made.
But there may be hope for people with the disease and those who are genetically predisposed to getting it. A recent study was conducted with just 12 people over the course of four to 17 months at the University of California Department of Surgery in Los Angeles. There, researchers were able to find that those who consumed omega-3 supplements or antioxidants saw clearance of the hallmark amyloid-beta protein and reduced inflammation in neurological tissues, two red flags that are commonly associated with Alzheimer's.
"Prevention of mild cognitive impairment progression is one of the best hopes," says Milan Fiala, one of the lead researchers of the study. "In addition to physical and mental exercises recommended by experts, this study suggests that nutrition is equally important."
Because of the relatively small sample size of the study, Fiala says that further clinical trials and studies will need to be done in the future to really study the potential of reversing the affects of Alzheimer's disease. A full-scale clinical trial will be better able to identify who will benefit the most from this new research.
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