PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study examines effect of fish oil in older adults’ brains

OHSU clinical trial finds statistically significant benefit for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s

2024-08-01
(Press-News.org) A clinical trial at Oregon Health & Science University suggests that a subset of older adults with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease may benefit from fish oil supplements.

The study published today in the journal JAMA Network Open.

The results come amid claims that fish oil supplements can improve brain function in people with memory problems. The study found no statistically significant benefit for all older adults in general. However, among those enrolled in the study who also carry a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease, it showed a reduction in the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain.

The study’s senior co-author from OHSU indicated that fish oil may be worthwhile for people who carry the APOE4 gene, which indicates a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but not necessarily for all older adults.

“Our findings showed that over three years, there was not a statistically significant difference between placebo and the group that took fish oil,” said Lynne Shinto, N.D., M.P.H., professor of neurology in the OHSU School of Medicine. “I don’t think it would be harmful, but I wouldn’t say you need to take fish oil to prevent dementia.”

The study enlisted 102 participants who were 75 years old or older who had relatively low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging, or MRIs, of their brains first as they were enrolled and then again at the conclusion of the three-year study, to assess the amount of change in white matter lesions in the brain. These lesions may inhibit the delivery of nutrients through blood vessels to the brain, which raises the risk of developing dementia later in life.

Participants enrolled in the study had relatively high levels of white matter lesions but were otherwise healthy, with no dementia.

Half of the participants took omega 3-enriched fish oil supplements each day while half took a soybean-based placebo. The two MRIs measuring the degree of white matter lesions at the beginning and end of the study period found a slight reduction in the progression of these lesions —  but not enough to be statistically significant between the two groups.

Among APOE4 carriers, however, researchers measured a dramatic reduction in the breakdown of brain cell integrity as soon as one year after treatment with the fish oil, compared with the soybean oil group.

“This is the first dementia prevention trial to use modern prevention tools, such as a blood test and brain scan, to identify not only people at high risk for dementia, but also those well-suited to receive a specific nutritional intervention,” said Gene Bowman, N.D., M.P.H., director of clinical trials and instructor of neurology at the McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “The fact that neuronal integrity breakdown was slowed in people randomized to omega-3 treatment who are also at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease is remarkable, and warrants a larger clinical trial in more diverse populations in the future.”

Bowman previously worked at OHSU, where the clinical trial was conducted.

In addition to Shinto and Bowman, co-authors from OHSU include Charles F. Murchison, Ph.D., Lisa C. Silbert, M.D., MCR, Hiroko H. Dodge, Ph.D., David Lahna, M.S., William Rooney, Ph.D., Jeffrey Kaye, M.D., and Joseph F. Quinn, M.D.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health grant awards R01AG043398, P30AG008017 and P30AG066518; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the NIH award to the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute at OHSU, grant award UL1TR002369; and the NIH Office of the Director, grant awards S10OD021701, S10OD018224 and S10OD016356 for shared instruments housed in OHSU’s Advanced Imaging Research Center. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Conformational dynamics and allostery elucidate how GPCR couple to multiple G-proteins, offering mechanistic insights into coupling-promiscuity and novel drug discovery strategies

Conformational dynamics and allostery elucidate how GPCR couple to multiple G-proteins, offering mechanistic insights into coupling-promiscuity and novel drug discovery strategies
2024-08-01
In a groundbreaking study, a multinational research team led by Dr. Adnan Sljoka (RIKEN) and Prof. Akio Kitao (Tokyo Tech), in collaboration with Prof. Scott Prosser (University of Toronto), has carried out experimental and computational studies to elucidate the mechanisms behind G protein selectivity and efficacy in the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR). A2AR is a member of major drug targets G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, which engages the G protein and initiates cell signaling, influencing heart health, inflammation, cancer, and brain diseases. Scientists have ...

Proteins as the key to precision medicine: Finding unknown effects of existing drugs

Proteins as the key to precision medicine: Finding unknown effects of existing drugs
2024-08-01
Fewer side effects, improved chances of healing: the goal of precision medicine is to provide patients with the most individualized treatment possible. This requires a precise understanding of what is happening at the cellular level. For the first time, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now succeeded in mapping the interactions of 144 active substances with around 8,000 proteins. The results could help to identify previously unknown potential benefits of existing drugs. Practically all drugs either affect, produce or eliminate proteins – or are, in fact, proteins. But what exactly happens when a high or low dose is taken? And what is going ...

Cheese of the future: Consumers open to animal-free alternatives

2024-08-01
Companies and institutes are currently working on biotechnological processes for the production of dairy products without the use of cows: In so-called precision fermentation, egg and milk proteins are produced with the help of bacteria, yeasts or other fungi. This results in foods such as milk or cheese with a familiar flavour and texture. Supporters hope that this will lead to more sustainable food production, as nutrient-rich proteins can be produced using fewer resources. But will consumers accept such products? Researchers at the University of Göttingen have found that a large proportion of German consumers are willing to try and buy cheese produced in this way. ...

New Moffitt study explores how antifragility could revolutionize cancer treatment

2024-08-01
TAMPA, Fla. — Researchers constantly seek innovative approaches to tackle cancer. One concept gaining traction is antifragility, a property where systems not only withstand stress but improve because of it. In cancer research, this concept is particularly relevant for tumors that adapt and evolve in response to treatment. Understanding antifragility could lead to more effective therapies. In a new study published in npj Complexity, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers offer a new perspective on antifragility, proposing ...

Advances in 3D organ bioprinting: A step towards personalized medicine and solving organ shortages

Advances in 3D organ bioprinting: A step towards personalized medicine and solving organ shortages
2024-08-01
In a latest review published in Engineering, an international team of scientists from China and the United States has presented a comprehensive analysis of the latest advancements in 3D organ bioprinting. This innovative technology holds the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and tackle some of the most pressing issues in organ transplantation. Organ damage or failure, whether resulting from injury, disease, or aging, poses a significant challenge due to the body’s limited natural regenerative capabilities. Traditional organ transplantation, while lifesaving, is fraught with difficulties including donor shortages and the risk of immune rejection. This has spurred a ...

China forges ahead with technological innovations in large-span arch bridge construction

China forges ahead with technological innovations in large-span arch bridge construction
2024-08-01
The field of bridge engineering is witnessing a transformative era, as China leads the way with its recent advancements in constructing large-span arch bridges. Jielian Zheng, the member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering from Guangxi University, has authored a research article in Engineering, titled “Recent Construction Technology Innovations and Practices for Large-Span Arch Bridges in China.” The article elucidates the significant strides made in the construction of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) ...

External mentorship key in encouraging trainees to pursue classical hematology

2024-08-01
(WASHINGTON, August 1, 2024) — In a year-long pilot program, external mentorship increased confidence, furthered career development, and facilitated networking opportunities for trainees in classical hematology, according to a study published in Blood Advances. Classical hematology, the study of non-cancerous blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thrombotic and hemorrhagic disorders, is projected to face a significant workforce shortage in the coming years. The American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) previous surveys of hematology/oncology program ...

Tiny flyers with large impact: Blowflies carry bird flu virus

Tiny flyers with large impact: Blowflies carry bird flu virus
2024-08-01
Fukuoka, Japan – Researchers from Kyushu University have discovered that blowflies, a family of flies strongly attracted to decaying flesh and feces, are carrying the bird flu virus in southern Japan. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, introduce a potential new route of transmission for bird flu and highlight the need to develop new countermeasures to prevent and control the disease in poultry farms. Since 2020, bird flu has been spreading rapidly around the globe, leading to the death of millions of wild birds and the culling ...

Stock market turbulence linked to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and suicide: A groundbreaking study analyzes 12 million deaths

Stock market turbulence linked to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and suicide: A groundbreaking study analyzes 12 million deaths
2024-08-01
In a recent study published in Engineering, a team of Chinese researchers has uncovered a startling correlation between stock market volatility and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and suicide. The research, which analyzed over 12 million deaths across China from 2013 to 2019, provides compelling evidence that the psychological stress induced by stock market fluctuations has severe and immediate health implications. The study, titled “Stock Volatility Increases the Mortality Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Suicide: A Case-Crossover Study of 12 Million Deaths,” is a wake-up call for investors, ...

Judging your own happiness could backfire

2024-08-01
Judging how happy you are could backfire and negatively impact life satisfaction and psychological well-being, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.     In three experiments comprising more than 1,800 participants, researchers found that having concerns or judgments about one’s own level of happiness were associated with lower well-being, due in part to greater negativity and disappointment about positive events. The research was published in the journal Emotion. Thinking too much about one’s own level of happiness could be related to fears about not measuring up or not being as happy as other people, said lead researcher Felicia ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Mathematical model illuminates how environment impacts life choices of salmon

Houston Methodist researchers shed light on increased rates of severe human infections caused by Streptococcus subspecies

Auburn University hosts 62nd Hands-On Workshop on Computational Biophysics, featuring the new VMD 2.0

The Salton Sea — an area rich with lithium — is a hot spot for child respiratory issues

University of Maryland-YouGov poll: Alsobrooks dominates Hogan, amendment to state constitution garners broad support

Exposure to particular sources of air pollution is harmful to children’s learning and memory, a USC study shows

Change of ownership in home health agencies may lead to increased Medicare spending and reduced staffing levels, according to UTHealth Houston research

More resources needed to protect birds in Germany

Mission to International Space Station launches research on brain organoids, heart muscle atrophy, and cold welding

nTIDE November 2024 Jobs Report: Disability employment remains near historic highs over past 18 months

Researchers aim to streamline cancer detection with new method for liquid biopsies

New Huntington’s treatment prevents protein aggregation

Bee gene specifies collective behavior

Jennifer Bickel, M.D., named MD Anderson Vice President and Chief Wellness Officer

Evolutionary paths vastly differ for birds, bats

Political pros no better than public in predicting which messages persuade

Investment in pediatric emergency care could save more than 2,100 young lives annually

The dynamic core of black holes

Improving energy production by boosting singlet fission process

Smoking cessation and incident cardiovascular disease

Cannabis use during early pregnancy following recreational cannabis legalization

Research shows Cleveland Clinic’s therapeutic virtual yoga program can be effective for chronic low back pain

Closing in on Parkinson’s Disease proteins in extracellular vesicles in the blood

Regional and global experts convene in Accra, Ghana to update cancer treatment guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa

China University of Geosciences (Beijing) unveils clues to an enigmatic geological process

Fueling greener aviation with hydrogen

Education, occupation, and wealth affect the risk of cognitive impairment

Revealing causal links in complex systems

Alzheimer disease as a clinical-biological construct— an international working group recommendation

Press registration now open for the EULAR 2025 Congress in Barcelona

[Press-News.org] Study examines effect of fish oil in older adults’ brains
OHSU clinical trial finds statistically significant benefit for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s