Omega-3 is heavily documented to be a beneficial part of anyone’s diet. Now studies show that these fatty acids can also aid in the prevention of memory loss and the risk of a stroke.

Finnish researchers from the University of Kuopio observed 3,660 participants over the age of sixty-five to prove this theory. Each person was asked to undergo scanning to study their brains twice with a five-year gap between the scans. The team was looking for the silent brain lesions that appear in roughly twenty percent of healthy elders.

As research was underway, the team noticed an interesting trend. The participants who were prone to consuming omega-3 fatty acids during three or more meals a week had close to a twenty-six percent reduced risk of the lesions. Similarly, the risk was lowered by thirteen percent with those who ate one serving per week. These lesions are contributors to memory loss and are even linked to causing strokes. Therefore the inclusion of omega-3 to one’s diet can significantly lower the risk of both these health issues.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, or herring. However, an important part of the study and the lack of the silent brain lesions were in the way the fish was prepared to eat. The researchers found that the omega-3 was only effective in diminishing the lesions if the type of fish was broiled or baked. Study leader Jyrki Virtanen says, "While eating tuna and other types of fish seems to help protect against memory loss and stroke, these results were not found in people who regularly ate fried fish.” It should also be noted that for those who do not have a palate for fish, omega-3 can be gained through high quality fish oil supplements such as Carlson’s Liquid Fish Oil.

Omega-3 has been proven to assist with many other health issues beyond Finland’s recent findings. According to the Journal of Neuroscience, the specific omega-3 called Docosahexaenoic acid may protect against a protein that is believed to be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common kind of dementia. Studies also show that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can increase the good cholesterol, lower increased blood pressure in those with hypertension and prevent blood clots. It can also help prevent heart disease by replacing foods high in saturated and trans fat with omega-3. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also benefit the inflammation of joints, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even help maintain good mental health.