Published on June 18, 2019
Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, play a key role in several aspects of brain health including mechanisms involved in memory and cognition. In 2016, results from a study assessing the association between Omega-3 Index, a biomarker of EPA and DHA status, and cognitive decline among older adults were published. This study included 720 participants aged 68 to 92 years old and assessed four cognitive domains: orientation, memory, attention, and language.
What were the findings of the study?
Participants with the highest Omega-3 Index levels (greater than 6.8%) had a 44% lower risk of cognitive impairment compared to participants with the lowest Omega-3 Index levels (less than 5.7%) (P=0.01).
This association remained consistent after adjusting for sex, age, education, metabolic risk factors (obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, and physical activity), depression, and anxiety.
Is your Omega-3 Index in the range for a healthy brain?
Make sure you know your Omega-3 Index and are taking daily steps to keep it at a level of at least 8%. Find out your levels today! Log on to the shop (click the link below) to get your tests and see for yourself if your levels can be improved.
Make sure you track your results before and after, about every 6 months!
Click Here to Access the Shop Page
How can I track my omega-3 intake and nutrient levels?
To help you track your nutrient intake and nutrient levels, GrassrootsHealth has created an online tracking system called myData-myAnswers. You can track your fish and plant-based omega-3 consumption, as well as your omega-3 supplements. This will help you know your true omega-3 intake and the intake amount you need to reach and maintain optimum nutrient levels. Check it out today!
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
