Popular Brain Supplement Used by Senior Pakistanis Causes Memory Loss: Study

Latest research suggests that omega-3 supplements, long marketed for brain health, are associated with faster cognitive decline in older adults.

A study based on data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) followed more than 800 older adults for up to five years and found that those taking omega-3 supplements experienced faster deterioration in memory and thinking abilities compared to non-users.

Participants were carefully balanced for age, sex, genetic risk factors, including APOE ε4 status, and baseline cognitive condition to ensure fair comparison.

Across standard cognitive measures including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADAS-Cog13, and Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), omega-3 users showed a consistently steeper decline over time.

The pattern suggested not just minor variation but a measurable acceleration in cognitive deterioration.

Interestingly, the effect did not appear to be driven by classical Alzheimer’s disease markers such as amyloid plaques or brain atrophy. Instead, researchers identified reduced cerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s vulnerable brain regions using FDG-PET imaging.

The researchers have warned that the findings do not prove causation, since the study is observational. They also note limitations such as reliance on self-reported supplement use and lack of detailed information on product quality or oxidation status.

While omega-3 intake from fish and whole foods remains supported by many studies, the results raise questions about contradictory results in older adults.