What You Eat Could Raise Your Risk of Alzheimer's

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Eating the wrong diet could increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have found a link between the degenerative brain disease and raised levels of an omega-6 fatty acid.

Researchers compared the brains of mice bred with a condition that mimics Alzheimer's to those of normal mice. They found higher levels of the omega-6 fat called arachidonic acid in mice with memory loss and confused behavior.

The researchers believe that the substance interferes with the brain's nerve cells, causing over-stimulation, and that lowering levels would allow the cells to function normally.
Sources:
Daily Mail October 20, 2008
BBC News October 19, 2008
Nature Neuroscience November 2008, 11, 1311-1318

It has been known for quite some time that an excess of omega-6 fats is harmful. This report now linking them to Alzheimer’s is another reason to be cautious about consuming too many of them.

Omega-6 fats are found in high concentrations in factory-farmed animals as they are typically fed grains. Poultry, cereals, eggs and nuts are other sources, but the major source of omega-6 for most Americans is vegetable oil. Vegetable oils such as corn, canola, soybean and sunflower oils are largely composed of omega-6 fats.

Excessive consumption of these vegetable oils can lead to:

• Asthma
• Blindness
• Heart disease
• Cancer

And it is difficult to avoid excessive intake if you eat processed foods, since these oils are present in nearly all of them. At the turn of the century, when heart attacks were rare, the average American consumed only one pound of vegetable oil per year. Today, the amount can exceed 75 pounds.

This seriously distorts the critical omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in your diet. Back at the end of World War II, omega-3 and omega-6 ratios were lopsided (1:2) in favor of omega-3s. Now, that ratio is 25:1 on the omega-6 side.

This is problematic not only because of the excessive omega-6, but also because of the lack of omega-3 -- one of the most important fats for your brain health.