Alzheimer's disease: omega-3 and alpha lipoic acid reduce cognitive and functional decline
Alzheimer's disease: fish oil and alpha lipoic acid to counter cognitive function decline
Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), in combination with alpha lipoic acid, are able to delay the loss of intellectual capacity that characterizes Alzheimer's disease. Simultaneous intake of these substances appears to have a protective effect on nerve cells, and may in the future be a new treatment to reduce symptoms of the disease.
This is the finding of a group of researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Ore. The main purpose of the study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer''s Disease, was precisely to evaluate the positive effects of taking Omega-3 absolute and in combination with alpha lipoic acid.
Omega-3 and lipoic acid, several benefits for the brain
DHA is one of the main constituents of neuron membranes and is therefore essential for the growth, stability and function of nerve tissue. Several studies, in fact, reveal the association between DHA deficiency and neurodegenerative diseases. EPA, on the other hand, is found in low amounts in the brain, but has high anti-inflammatory capacity so it can also protect the nervous system from 'inflammation. Alpha lipoic acid, a natural compound found mainly in meat and a small percentage in vegetables, possesses high antioxidant power and is therefore able to protect cell membrane lipids from oxidation.
Positive action on cognitive and functional decline
The study in question involved 39 male and female patients with Alzheimer's disease. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, each of which followed a certain treatment daily for 12 months. One group of patients received a 3-gram supplement of concentrated fish oil (containing the equivalent of 975 mg EPA and 675 mg DHA). Another, in addition to the fish oil, took 600 mg of lipoic acid. A third group received only a placebo. Each patient, before and after treatment, underwent a 30-question test (Mini Mental State Examination) to assess cognitive impairment. Functional abilities were also analyzed for each, using an Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale that can quantify the level of autonomy in performing daily activities. The results showed that compared with the placebo group, those who had taken Omega-3 and alpha lipoic acid simultaneously showed a delay in the decline of cognitive and functional abilities. In contrast, the group of patients treated only with Omega-3 showed a slowdown in the loss of functional abilities alone. These findings support those of other studies that have demonstrated the beneficial role of alpha lipoic acid on cognitive decline.
The effect of alpha lipoic acid
The researchers' hypothesis is that alpha lipoic acid may enhance the protective effect of DHA on neurons, reducing the oxidative state associated with pathology and protecting the fatty acids themselves from oxidation. These mechanisms, together with the anti-inflammatory mechanisms typical of Omega-3s, may therefore limit nerve cell degeneration. Although the results are encouraging, the study considered a rather small number of participants. It will therefore be necessary to wait for larger clinical trials to understand benefits and mechanisms that will lead to new Alzheimer's treatments.
