WOMEN WITH ALZHEIMER’S SHOW SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER OMEGA FATTY ACID LEVELS, STUDY REVEALS

Women with Alzheimer’s show significantly lower omega fatty acid levels, study reveals. A new study has found that women with Alzheimer’s disease have significantly lower levels of omega fatty acids in their blood—up to 20% lower than those without the condition. Interestingly, this pattern was not observed in men, suggesting that Alzheimer’s may affect the sexes differently on a biological level.

Researchers analysed blood samples from individuals with Alzheimer’s, those with mild cognitive impairment, and healthy controls. The results showed that women with Alzheimer’s had lower levels of unsaturated fats—including beneficial omega fatty acids—and higher levels of saturated fats. These differences were not present in male patients.

“This sex-based difference was the most surprising and unexpected finding,” said Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley, senior author of the study from King’s College London. The research, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, raises the possibility that low omega fatty acid levels could play a role in the development of the disease—although a clinical trial is needed to establish a causal link.

Alzheimer’s disease affects women disproportionately, with women being twice as likely as men to develop the condition. While longer lifespans partly explain this, other factors such as hormonal differences, immune system variation, and social determinants like education also contribute.

The study involved 306 people with Alzheimer’s, 165 with mild cognitive impairment, and 370 cognitively healthy individuals. Researchers focused on lipids—fatty compounds that include both saturated (generally considered unhealthy) and unsaturated fats (including omega fatty acids, which are typically seen as beneficial).

The findings suggest that metabolic changes in the liver could be preventing sufficient omega fatty acids from reaching the brain in women with Alzheimer’s. “These lipids feed the brain,” said Legido-Quigley, highlighting the potential impact of such a deficiency.

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in diets like the Mediterranean diet, have long been associated with heart and brain health. One 2022 study even showed that people in midlife with higher blood levels of omega-3s performed better on cognitive tests. However, trials providing omega-3 supplements to older adults with dementia have so far failed to show clear cognitive benefits.

Legido-Quigley now advocates for a clinical trial specifically aimed at testing whether omega-3 supplementation could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s in women with low unsaturated fat levels. She noted that these changes may begin as early as a woman’s 50s. In the meantime, she advises women to ensure they consume sufficient omega fatty acids in their diets.

There are three main omega-3 fatty acids: ALA (found in plant-based sources like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts), and DHA and EPA (primarily found in oily fish). The NHS recommends two 140g portions of fish per week, including at least one oily fish, to maintain adequate levels.

Dr. Julia Dudley of Alzheimer’s Research UK, which co-funded the study, emphasised the importance of further investigation into the biological differences between men and women in Alzheimer’s progression:

“Understanding how Alzheimer’s affects women differently could help tailor future treatments and prevention strategies,” she said.