A MAJOR breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's has been made with the discovery that the disease can be combated with omega-3 oils.
Long known as an important aid for the heart and joints, the oils found in fish, walnuts and a number of seeds could also help the 58,000 Scots who suffer from the condition.
Research by experts at Aberdeen University has found that individuals wh
ose diets are high in omega-3 oils do better in mental tests than those without the oils in their diets.
The research has also found a genetic link that explains why some fish oil studies have been inconclusive in the past.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative terminal disease for which there is currently no known cure. It begins with short-term forgetfulness and leads to severe memory loss, personality changes and the inability to live an independent life.
It is estimated to cost Scotland £1.4bn a year.
Lawrence Whalley, professor of mental health at Aberdeen University, who led the research, said: "Ten years ago this would have been science fiction. What we are touching on here is how nutrients can interact with specific genes in the body."
The research involved studying 120 over-64s who had sat intelligence tests in Scottish schools in 1947. They were given written intelligence tests at the ages of 64, 66 and 68. They gave blood samples so that both their DNA and the presence of omega-3 fats in their blood could be analysed.
The results were separated according to whether the individuals possessed a crucial gene known as APOE e4. Experts believe the gene is linked to the likelihood of contracting Alzheimer's at an earlier age than is more usually the case.
For 68-year-old individuals without the APOE e4 gene there was a clear link between better results and the presence of omega-3s. Volunteers with more than 2.1% omega-3 in the membrane of their blood cells got the best scores of more than 50. Meanwhile, no one with less than 2% of the fats in their blood cell membranes managed more than 40 in the tests.
However, in those with the crucial APOE e4 gene present, the omega-3 oils made no difference to their test scores.
The experts believe that the gene is the key as to whether fish oils help stave off dementia in later life and that omega-3s make the difference for those without the gene.
In the past, tests trying to link fish oil and intelligence in the elderly that did not make allowance for the gene have produced mixed results.
Whalley said: "What emerges from this research is that if you don't have this gene, omega-3s can make a difference. The next big thing will be to identify what factors can influence how these genes can be switched on and off, and also what to do if you have the gene."
The study has been welcomed by campaigners.
Maureen Thom, information manager for Alzheimer Scotland, said: "It's a very welcome and interesting piece of research, very thorough. I would like to see it developed and have results analysed for a larger number of people. We do advise that everyone should try to stick to a healthy lifestyle and consume omega-3 oils as part of a healthy diet."
Betty Muir has found that Alzheimer's has transformed her life. Her husband Douglas is suffering from the disease and needs full-time care.
She said: "It's good to hear about research like this being carried out and we hope that it can be further developed so that we can deal with this disease. My husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five and a half years ago, and we spent time looking for scientists who will examine his brain after he dies, because we believe in the need for research.
"Douglas used to be a senior partner in a firm of chartered quantity surveyors. He used to have a photographic memory for maps, and now he can barely get to the end of the road.
"We need to realise that this is a disease like cancer, stroke and heart disease, yet it gets a fraction of the research funding those conditions get. If you have heart disease, you're admitted to hospital. If you have Alzheimer's, you're sent home and expected to get on with it."
Fat friendOmega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fat found in oily fish and various foods which come from plants.
Experts believe that the best sources of the oils are found in fish such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines.
They can also be found in meat, milk and eggs, although to a lesser extent than in fish.
Vegetable sources include flaxseeds, linseeds and walnuts.
The full article contains 800 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
