A study has found that higher levels of omega-3 and vitamin D in the blood can slash the risk of dementia in older adults by 4.6x.
This was also associated with a reduction in homocysteine (HCy) levels, with those in the 'high-risk' category for dementia having HCy levels of 8mcmol/L or over.
The study was the third in a series of studies that aimed to delve into the impacts of omega-3 and vitamin D in cognitive health.
Results indicated that if an older individual's vitamin D levels fall below 15 ng/ml, or their omega-3 index is lower than 5%, they are also at 'high-risk' of developing dementia.
Notably, the consumption of B vitamins, which are known to reduce HCy levels, could slow the rate of brain shrinkage seen in mild cognitive impairment and dementia by 73%.
As well as this, B vitamins could slow the rate of cognitive decline, highlighting the role of the vitamin group in preventing age-related reductions in brain functionality.
The findings of this study point towards the utilisation of these three ingredients as a preventative measure for older adults at risk of cognitive decline.
Lead author of the study, Dr Annike van Soest, commented: “We observed more than a four-fold increase in the risk of developing dementia in individuals with combined suboptimal omega-3, vitamin D and homocysteine status. This effect size is also larger when compared to other notable risk factors associated with the development of dementia; in our sample, being a carrier of the APOE ε4 allele tripled the risk of dementia."
"For too long nutrition has been relatively discounted as a factor in the causation of dementia. This study corrects that misconception and lays the foundation for prevention based upon multiple nutrients." Annike concludes.