In a new study from the University of Bordeaux, researchers found a link between eating more fish and a lower risk of vascular brain disease.
Vascular brain disease involves damage to blood vessels in the brain and is a risk factor for vascular dementia and stroke.
In the study, the team analyzed MRI scans from 1,623 people over the age of 65 with no medical history of stroke, cardiovascular disease or dementia. The participants also filled in a questionnaire about their dietary habits.
The participants were split into four groups, according to how frequently they ate fish: less than once a week, about once a week, two to three times a week, or four or more times a week.
The researchers compared the number of signs of blood vessel disease between people in each group.
Participants who said that they ate more fish had fewer signs of damage in MRI scans of their brains than those who ate it less frequently.
The association between fish intake and blood vessel disease was stronger in people aged 65–69 compared to older people in the study, and there was no strong link between in people over 75 years old.
The team says for most people, the risk of dementia depends on the complex interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors.
Understanding which aspects of lifestyle have the greatest effect on brain health is key to empowering people to make informed decisions about how they live their lives.
The NHS recommends eating two portions of fish a week as part of a balanced diet. Oily fish can be a source of important fatty acids, but it is unlikely that any specific food or supplement holds the key to maintaining a healthy brain.
What is good for your heart tends to be good for the brain and taking steps to control blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking, only drinking within recommended limits and leading an active lifestyle have all been linked to better brain health as we age.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about this diet may prevent or even reverse Alzheimer’s disease and findings of this traditional diet could reduce inflammation in the body.
For more information about food and health, please see recent studies about this diet linked to better thinking skills later in life and results showing that this diet can increase heart disease and death risk.
The study is published in Neurology. One author of the study is Dr. Rosa Sancho.
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