A small, newly published study shows that increased omega-3 intake among young adults could serve to heighten their brain power even while they’re at the top of their ‘cognitive’ game.
Omega-3 supplements has been shown to help boost brain power in young adults. ©zmkstudio/shutterstock.com
While a slew of studies have vaunted the health benefits of omega-3s for everything from cognitive function to eyesight and heart health in older adults, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh claim that theirs is the first study of its kind for focusing on the impact of the fatty acid on young people.
For the study, published online in PLOS One and released last week, scientists recruited 13 healthy young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 who were instructed to boost their omega-3 intake with supplements over six months.
"So many of the previous studies have been done with the elderly or people with medical conditions, leaving this unique population of young adults unaddressed," said lead researcher Matthew Muldoon in a statement.
"But what about our highest-functioning periods? Can we help the brain achieve its full potential by adapting our healthy behaviors in our young adult life? We found that we absolutely can."
Before the experiment, blood samples were analyzed for baseline measurements, and subjects also performed a working memory test that required remembering a series of letters and numbers.
After six months of taking an omega-3 supplement, participants performed the test again. The results of the study found a correlation between improved cognitive function and increased omega-3 intake, researchers say.
Dietary sources of omega-3, meanwhile, include fatty fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel, as well as soy beans, flaxseed oil and walnuts.
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