Heart and vascular, or cardiovascular, diseases include conditions such as arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, congenital heart defects, vascular dementia, and stroke.
In a study from the University of Bordeaux, scientists 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 data from the Three-City Study, a large study of the relationship between vascular diseases and dementia.
The researchers 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.
The team found people who 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 effect 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 the 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. We know that 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.
If you care about brain health, please read studies that after COVID-19, watch for these potential heart and brain problems, and can vitamin D improve older people’s cognitive health? Not necessarily.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and results showing scientists find a new drug to stop brain tumor growth.
The study was conducted by Dr. Rosa Sancho et al and published in the journal Neurology.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
