Fish oil supplements fail to protect memory in older adults, study finds

A two-year clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has found that high-dose omega-3 fish oil supplements do not improve thinking skills or slow brain shrinkage in older adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Published in the journal eBioMedicine, the study involved 365 adults aged 55 to 80 who rarely consumed fish. While the supplements successfully increased levels of key fatty acids in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, participants showed no cognitive or structural brain advantages compared to a placebo group.

Dr. Hussein Naji Yassine, director of the USC Center for Personalized Brain Health, noted that while omega-3s are essential for brain cell connections, the results do not support their use as a preventive measure against Alzheimer’s. This finding challenges common marketing claims aimed at seniors, as Americans spend over $1 billion annually on omega-3 products.