Omega-3 supplements have no effect on cognitive decline

A new study has claimed that a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids has no effect on cognitive decline in older persons.

Researcher Emily Chew of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said they did not see any benefit of Omega-3 supplements for stopping cognitive decline.

In the study, researchers followed about 4,000 patients from 2006 to 2012 as part of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2. The average age of people in the study was 72, and 58 percent of them were female.

The participants were given cognitive tests every two years during the study. The eight-part tests were designed to measure immediate and delayed recall, attention and memory, and processing speed.

The researchers split the participants into four groups. One received Omega-3, one received lutein and zeaxanthin, one was given Omega-3, as well as lutein and zeaxanthin, and the other received a placebo.

The researchers noticed that none of the supplements made a difference.