Women with Alzheimer’s possess unusually low omega fatty acid levels, study finds

Women with Alzheimer’s possess unusually low omega fatty acid levels, study finds
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A study has found that women with Alzheimer’s disease have unusually low levels of omega fatty acids, a pattern not observed in men with the disease, The Guardian reported. The analysis of blood samples, published in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia journal, showed that women with Alzheimer’s had up to 20% lower levels of unsaturated fats compared to healthy women. They also had higher levels of saturated lipids.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley of King’s College London, noted that this sex-based difference was “shocking and unexpected.” While the study does not definitively prove a causal link, it suggests that a deficiency in these lipids may contribute to the development of the disease in women.

Alzheimer’s disease is about twice as common in women as in men, and this disparity has been linked to factors such as longer lifespan, hormonal differences, and immune responses. The study’s findings suggest that changes in metabolism or the liver may be preventing omega fatty acids from reaching the brain.

Researchers are now calling for a clinical trial to determine if omega fatty acid supplements could help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s specifically in women with low levels of these compounds. In the meantime, the researchers recommend that women ensure they are getting enough omega fatty acids through their diet, which can be found in foods like oily fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts.