Omega 3 oils cut the risk of Alzheimer's, say experts

A DIET rich in fish, omega 3 oils, fruit and vegetables could lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's, according to research published last night.

But consuming oils rich in omega 6, such as sunflower or grapeseed oil, could increase the chances of developing memory problems, it found.

Published in the medical journal Neurology, the study examined the diets of 8,085 men and women aged over 65 who did not have dementia at the start of the research.

Over four years of follow-up, 183 of the participants developed Alzheimer's and 98 developed another form of dementia.

The researchers found that people who regularly consumed omega 3-rich oils, such as a type of rapeseed oil, flaxseed oil and walnut oil, reduced the risk of dementia by 60 per cent compared with those who did not. People who ate fruit and vegetables daily also cut the risk of dementia by 30 per cent compared with the others.

The study did not find any association between consuming corn oil, peanut oil, lard, meat or wine and lowering the risk of dementia.