Essential Fatty Acids & Alzheimer's?

According to research at the University of Bristol, the amount of fatty acids in the brain varies between healthy people and those with Alzheimer's Disease These findings, published in the journal Neurochemical Research, will help researchers understand what's happening in the brain during the disease.

Seth Love, Professor of Neuropathology at the Univ. of Bristol, who led the work, says: "Fatty acids are essential to the way our brains work; they affect the way nerve cells function and help insulate the electrical signals that transmit information around our brains. When we compared the brains of people without Alzheimer's to those with the disease, we found a reduction in two types of fatty acid, and an increase in two others. It might be that the changes in amounts of fatty acids contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease, or are a consequence. We need to do more research to find out."

Rebecca Wood, CEO of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, says: "Dementia research in Bristol is making fantastic progress. It's vital that we understand the changes in the brain that cause Alzheimer's so that we can open the door to new treatments and ways to prevent the disease.

"We don't know if taking fatty acid supplements or altering our diets could have any effect on Alzheimer's risk, but this new research is helping us to understand how fatty acids might be involved in the disease," says Wood. "Over 4,300 people in Bristol have dementia, a number forecast to rise as the population ages. We must invest in research now to find ways to prevent, treat or cure this devastating disease."

Source: Univ. of Bristol
November 16, 2009