Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, considered useful for improving memory, is found to be ineffective for those with Alzheimer’s disease. This was brought to light in a government-sponsored study, which took 18 months to conclude.

The study still confirmed the belief that Omega-3 supplements are helpful in improving mild memory ailments in healthy people. However, it did not have any effect on patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

The Omega-3 supplement, docosahexenoic acid or DHA was used in the study. Dr. Joseph Quinn, Oregon Health and Sciences University of Portland, who headed the study team, said that the study results do not recommend the regular use of DHA on Alzheimer’s patients.

This conclusion is contradictory to the result of the six-month study conducted by Martek Biosciences Corp. They found that their DHA supplements are useful in restoring the mental capacity of Alzheimer’s patients whose memory had deteriorated. It was found that the mental state of the patient improved to that of a person three years younger.

Both studies are being presented at the Alzheimer’s Association convention in Vienna, Austria. Both stress the difficulty in restoring the memory and activities in a patient with Alzheimer’s.

Both studies agree on one aspect. Earlier the treatment starts, better will be the results. Ideally, treatment should commence before the sticky amyloid plaque set in as toxic mass in the brain.

Earlier studies on mice and men have proved the benefit of omega-3 supplements in slowing down the disease. High hopes were placed on DHA supplements as a possible treatment.

DHA is present in our body in small quantities. The government-sponsored study found that taking DHA supplements increased the DHA in the blood, but did nothing to improve the test results approved for Alzheimer’s.

Petersen, a former vice chairman of the Alzheimer’s Association said that with contradictory findings, healthy elderly people are not advised to take DHA supplements.

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