Does Eating Fish Protect the Brain Against Air Pollution's Harmful Effects?
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Moderate dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of one to two servings of fish weekly may help counteract the potential harmful effects of air pollution on the brain, a new study suggests. Among older women living in areas with high levels of air pollution, brain shrinkage was greater among those with the lowest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids than among their counterparts who had the highest levels.
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@achinto Previous studies have suggested that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) reduce brain damage caused by exposures to various environmental neurotoxins, including lead, organic solvents, and methyl mercury. However, until now, no study has examined whether LCn3PUFAs offer similar protection against the neurotoxic effects of PM2.5 exposure. Chen's team investigated whether blood LCn3PUFA levels modify the association between PM2.5 exposure and brain structure using data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). Participants included 1315 women aged 65 to 80 years who were free of dementia at enrollment between 1996 and 1999. The women completed questionnaires about diet, physical activity, and medical history.