En ny studie på 2031 norske menn og kvinner mellom 70–74 år, hvor man så på sambandet mellom hvor mye fisk de spiste, og hvor bra de gjorde det på tester av kognitiv kapasitet bekrefter tidligere studier hvor man sett at fisk er "bra for hjernen". Best resultat fikk de som spiser "riktig" fisk, og ikke bare tar tilskudd av tran. Den positive effekten kan nok ikke bare tilskrives omega-3 ettersom de som spiste mager fisk gjorde det like godt på testene som de som spiste fet fisk.
Cognitive performance among the elderly and dietary fish intake: the Hordaland Health Study
Eha Nurk, Christian A Drevon, Helga Refsum, Kari Solvoll, Stein E Vollset, Ottar Nygård, Harald A Nygaard, Knut Engedal, Grethe S Tell and A David Smith
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 5, 1470-1478, November 2007
Background: Increasing evidence suggests that cognitive impairment and dementia in older subjects might be influenced by a diet including seafood.
Objective: The objective was to examine the cross-sectional relation between intake of different amounts of various seafood (fish and fish products) and cognitive performance.
Design: The subjects (n = 2031 subjects; 55% women), aged 70–74 y, were recruited from the general population in Western Norway and underwent cognitive testing. A cognitive test battery included the Kendrick Object Learning Test, Trail Making Test (part A), modified versions of the Digit Symbol Test, Block Design, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Controlled Oral Word Association Test. Poor cognitive performance was defined as a score in the highest decile for the Trail Making Test and in the lowest decile for all other tests.
Results: Subjects whose mean daily intake of fish and fish products was 10 g/d (n = 1951) had significantly better mean test scores and a lower prevalence of poor cognitive performance than did those whose intake was <10 g/d (n = 80). The associations between total intake of seafood and cognition were strongly dose-dependent; the maximum effect was observed at an intake of 75 g/d. Most cognitive functions were influenced by fish intake. The effect was more pronounced for nonprocessed lean fish and fatty fish.
Conclusions: In the elderly, a diet high in fish and fish products is associated with better cognitive performance in a dose-dependent manner.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/86/5/1470
