Eating Baked Fish Benefits Brain Health during Old Age: Study

Eat baked or broiled fish to prevent dementia and cognitive decline, suggests a new study.

Oily fish, nuts and sea food rich in omega-3 fatty acids help boost mental health and protect against brain atrophy, typical in later years. Experts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found eating cooked fish is better than fried fish irrespective of how much omega-3 fatty acids they contain.

Age induced conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease are attributed to lifestyle, eating choices and habits like smoking, drinking and physical inactivity during younger years. Eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and its anti-oxidants safeguard against loss of brain volume and poor functioning leading to massive deterioration of thinking and intellectual skills. The current research examined eating habits of 260 participants enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study and used high-resolution MRI scans to note changes in their brain volume. The subjects did not suffer from any mental issues and were followed for almost a decade.

It was observed that individuals who ate baked or broiled fish at least once a week had greater grey matter volume in brain regions related to memory and cognition. This group of people were more likely to pursue college education than their non-fish eating counterparts.

The findings also revealed the levels of omega-3 fatty acids were higher in baked fish while deep frying fish in high temperature destroyed its nutritive element. The results indicate that brain health is more impacted by dietary habits and lifestyle choices of people than biological factors.

"We did not find a relationship between omega-3 levels and these brain changes, which surprised us a little. It led us to conclude that we were tapping into a more general set of lifestyle factors that were affecting brain health of which diet is just one part," said James T. Becker, study author and professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in a news release.

"A confluence of lifestyle factors likely are responsible for better brain health, and this reserve might prevent or delay cognitive problems that can develop later in life," added Becker.

More information is available online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.