EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023
MINNEAPOLIS - People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who eat more foods high in certain omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed oil, walnuts, canola oil and pumpkin seeds may have a slower physical decline from the disease and may have a slightly extended survival. The study, which looked at the survival of people with ALS over the course of 18 months, was published in the June 21, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers also found an omega-6 fatty acid may be beneficial. The study does not prove that these omega fatty acids slow decline of ALS or extend survival; it only shows an association.
ALS is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. People with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death. The average life span after diagnosis is two to five years.
“The link our study found between diet and ALS is intriguing and suggests, but does not prove, that people with ALS may benefit from incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids into their diet,” said Kjetil Bjornevik, MD, PhD, of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. “It will now be important to conduct additional research looking specifically at the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid in people with ALS to further explore this possibility.”
The study involved 449 people who had ALS with an average age of 58, who were followed over 18 months. Of the total participants, 126 or 28%, died by the end of the study.
Researchers looked at levels of omega-3 fatty acids in participants’ blood. They divided them into four groups based on lowest to highest amounts.
Participants took a test to assess their disease progression and severity of symptoms. The test measured 12 aspects of physical function including swallowing, speaking, chewing, and the ability to use muscles in the hands, arms, legs and torso, as well as respiratory function. Each category was scored from zero, meaning no ability, to four, meaning normal ability. Total scores ranged between zero to 48, with higher scores indicating better function and less severe symptoms.
Researchers found an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid was the most beneficial. This acid is found in many seeds and oils, including flaxseed, walnuts, chia, hemp, and many common vegetable oils.
The people with the highest amount of alpha-linolenic acid had an average score of 38.3 at the start of the study, while the people with the lowest amount had an average score of 37.6.
A lower number of people from the group with the most alpha-linolenic acid died during the study, with 21 deaths, or 19%, compared to people in the lowest group, with 37 deaths or 33%.
After adjusting for age, sex and ethnicity, people with the highest amounts of alpha-linolenic acid had a 50% lower risk of death during the study compared to people with the lowest amount.
Higher levels of a specific omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid that is found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements was also associated with a lower risk of death during the study.
In addition, researchers found an omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid that is found in vegetable oils, nuts, meats, seeds and eggs was associated with a lower risk of death during the study.
A limitation of the study is the lack of access to data on the overall diet of the participants, including other nutrients and supplements as well as total caloric intake, which could all be associated with survival time in ALS.
The study was supported by the ALS Association.
Learn more about ALS at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology’s free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life® on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the hashtags #Neurology and #AANscience.
The American Academy of Neurology is the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 40,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit AAN.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
END
Omega-3 fatty acids linked to slower decline in ALS
2023-06-21
(Press-News.org)
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Is TBI a chronic condition?
2023-06-21
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023
MINNEAPOLIS – People with TBI may continue to improve or decline years after their injury, making it a more chronic illness, according to a study published in the June 21, 2023, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Our results dispute the notion that TBI is a one-time event with a stagnant outcome after a short period of recovery,” said study author Benjamin L. Brett, PhD, of the Medical College ...
Omega-3 fatty acids linked with slower progression of ALS
2023-06-21
Key points:
In an 18-month study, people living with ALS who had higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood were found to have slower decline in physical functionality and lower risk of premature death compared to those with lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)—an omega-3 fatty acid found in many nuts, seeds, and oils—showed the strongest link to slower disease progression. Those with higher levels of ALA had a 50% lower risk of dying during the study period compared to those with lower levels of ALA.
Embargoed for release: Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 4:00 PM ET
Boston, MA—Consuming omega-3 fatty acids—particularly ...
A UCI-led study found that plant extracts used by indigenous people hold promise in treatment of ataxia
2023-06-21
Irvine, CA – June 21, 2023 – A University of California, Irvine-led team of researchers have discovered that extracts from plants used by the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations peoples in their traditional botanical medicine practices are able to rescue the function of ion channel proteins carrying mutations that cause human Episodic Ataxia.
The study, “Native American ataxia medicines rescue ataxia-linked mutant potassium channel activity via binding to the voltage sensing domain” was published in June in Nature Communications.
“Episodic Ataxia 1 (EA1) is a movement disorder caused by inherited mutations ...
An app can transform smartphones into thermometers that accurately detect fevers
2023-06-21
If you’ve ever thought you may be running a temperature yet couldn’t find a thermometer, you aren’t alone. A fever is the most commonly cited symptom of COVID-19 and an early sign of many other viral infections. For quick diagnoses and to prevent viral spread, a temperature check can be crucial. Yet accurate at-home thermometers aren’t commonplace, despite the rise of telehealth consultations.
There are a few potential reasons for that. The devices can range from ...
Study sheds light on how breast cancer cells evade immune surveillance and survive in lymph nodes
2023-06-21
Key Takeaways
In breast cancer, nearby lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system, are usually the first site of cancer spread
New research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) reveals how cancer cells suppress anti-cancer immune responses in the lymph nodes to survive and spread, or metastasize
The findings could lead to new strategies to prevent this suppression and unleash the immune system to fight cancer
BOSTON – In breast cancer, nearby lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system, are usually the first site of cancer spread, ...
Targeting GITR in cancer immunotherapy – there is no perfect knowledge
2023-06-21
“[...] the experience with GITR targeting in patients may inform the development of either novel or next-generation immunotherapy approaches.”
BUFFALO, NY- June 21, 2023 – A new research perspective was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on June 19, 2023, entitled, “Targeting GITR in cancer immunotherapy – there is no perfect knowledge.”
In this new perspective, researchers Diwakar Davar and Roberta Zappasodi from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), University of Pittsburgh, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Weill Cornell Graduate School ...
Demonstrating the significance of individual molecules during mechanical stress in cells
2023-06-21
The cells in our body are continuously exposed to mechanical forces that are either externally applied or generated by the cells themselves. Being able to respond to such mechanical stimuli is an indispensable prerequisite for a large number of biological processes. However, how cells manage to process mechanical stimuli is poorly understood because techniques to study the very fine mechanical signals in cells are lacking. Researchers at the University of Münster (Germany) have now developed a method for altering the mechanics ...
Laser therapy is most effective treatment for tinnitus, study finds
2023-06-21
Low-level laser therapy and associated photobiomodulation is the most effective of the known treatments for tinnitus, according to a study comparing the main therapies in current use, conducted by Brazilian scientists affiliated with the Optics and Photonics Research Center (CEPOF). The study is reported in an article published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.
CEPOF is a Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) funded by FAPESP and hosted at the University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) in Brazil.
Some 750 million people suffer from tinnitus worldwide, according to a European study that analyzed five ...
'All-inside' meniscal repair shows good long-term outcomes
2023-06-21
June 21, 2023 – A second-generation "all-inside" meniscal repair system provides a high success rate at long-term follow-up, reports a study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio in partnership with Wolters Kluwer.
"Our 10-year results of second-generation, all-inside repair were better than those of first-generation implants and equivalent to those seen with the other common techniques," according to the new research, led by Rick W. Wright, MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville.
Long-term ...
Rotman School professor receives Sumantra Ghoshal Award for Rigour and Relevance in the Study of Management
2023-06-21
Toronto – Anita M. McGahan, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, is the 2023 recipient of the Sumantra Ghoshal Award for Rigour and Relevance in the Study of Management.
The Ghoshal Award recognizes a scholar who has distinguished themself by demonstrating both rigorous and impactful scholarship, and by engaging with the world of practice. The award is presented annually in the memory of Ghoshal, who was a professor at London Business School and whose research focused on ...