Well maybe these supplements don't help. Except that more research from our fucking failures of stroke associations needs to be done in unhealthy people.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22696350
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Evidence
from observational studies suggests that diets high in omega-3
long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may protect people from
cognitive decline and dementia. The strength of this potential
protective effect has recently been tested in randomised controlled
trials.
OBJECTIVES:
To
assess the effects of omega-3 PUFA supplementation for the prevention
of dementia and cognitive decline in cognitively healthy older people.
SEARCH METHODS:
We
searched ALOIS - the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement
Group's Specialized Register on 6 April 2012 using the terms: "omega 3",
PUFA, "fatty acids", "fatty acid", fish, linseed, eicosapentaenoic,
docosahexaenoic.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Randomised
controlled trials of an omega-3 PUFA intervention which was provided
for a minimum of six months to participants aged 60 years and over who
were free from dementia or cognitive impairment at the beginning of the
study. Two review authors independently assessed all trials.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:
The
review authors sought and extracted data on incident dementia,
cognitive function, safety and adherence, either from published reports
or by contacting the investigators for original data. Data were
extracted by two review authors. We calculated mean difference (MD) or
standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) on
an intention-to-treat basis, and summarised narratively information on
safety and adherence.
MAIN RESULTS:
Information
on cognitive function at the start of a study was available on 4080
participants randomised in three trials. Cognitive function data were
available on 3536 participants at final follow-up.In two studies
participants received gel capsules containing either omega-3 PUFA (the
intervention) or olive or sunflower oil (placebo) for six or 24 months.
In one study, participants received margarine spread for 40 months; the
margarine for the intervention group contained omega-3 PUFA. Two studies
had cognitive health as their primary outcome; one study of
cardiovascular disease included cognitive health as an additional
outcome.None of the studies examined the effect of omega-3 PUFA on
incident dementia. In two studies involving 3221 participants there was
no difference between the omega-3 and placebo group in mini-mental state
examination score at final follow-up (following 24 or 40 months of
intervention); MD -0.07 (95% CI -0.25 to 0.10). In two studies involving
1043 participants, other tests of cognitive function such as word
learning, digit span and verbal fluency showed no beneficial effect of
omega-3 PUFA supplementation. Participants in both the intervention and
control groups experienced either small or no cognitive declines during
the studies.The main reported side-effect of omega-3 PUFA
supplementation was mild gastrointestinal problems. Overall, minor
adverse events were reported by fewer than 15% of participants, and
reports were balanced between intervention groups. Adherence to the
intervention was on average over 90% among people who completed the
trials. All three studies included in this review are of high
methodological quality.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
Direct
evidence on the effect of omega-3 PUFA on incident dementia is lacking.
The available trials showed no benefit of omega-3 PUFA supplementation
on cognitive function in cognitively healthy older people. Omega-3 PUFA
supplementation is generally well tolerated with the most commonly
reported side-effect being mild gastrointestinal problems.Further
studies of longer duration are required. Longer-term studies may
identify greater change in cognitive function in study participants
which may enhance the ability to detect the possible effects of omega-3
PUFA supplementation in preventing cognitive decline in older people.
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