Omega fatty acids could protect women from Alzheimer’s disease, new research shows. Analysis of lipids in the blood – fat molecules that perform many important functions in the body – revealed that there was a significant loss of unsaturated fats, such as those containing omega fatty acids, in the blood of women with Alzheimer’s compared to healthy women. The scientists found no significant difference in the composition of the same lipid molecules in men with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy men, suggesting that these lipids play a different role in the disease depending on gender. Fats are important for maintaining a healthy brain, so this study could shed light on why more women are diagnosed with the disease.
Lipid Biology in Alzheimer’s Differs Between the Sexes
The study, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association by researchers from King’s College London and Queen Mary University London, is the first to highlight the important role that lipids may play in Alzheimer’s risk between the sexes. Lead author Dr. Cristina Legido-Quigley of King’s College London said, “Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s and are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease after the age of 80 than men. One of the most surprising findings when looking at the different genders was that there was no difference in these lipids in healthy and cognitively impaired men, whereas in women the picture was completely different. The study suggests that lipid biology in Alzheimer’s differs between the sexes, which opens up new avenues for research.”
The scientists took plasma samples from 841 participants who had Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment and cognitively healthy controls and analyzed them for inflammation and damage in the brain. They used mass spectrometry to analyze the 700 individual lipids in the blood. Lipids are a group of many molecules. Saturated lipids are generally considered “unhealthy” or “bad” lipids, while unsaturated lipids, which sometimes contain omega fatty acids, are generally considered “healthy”. The scientists found a sharp increase in saturated lipids – the “unhealthy lipids” – in women with Alzheimer’s compared to the healthy group. The lipids with attached omega fatty acids were most strongly reduced in the Alzheimer’s group. The scientists now say that there is statistical evidence of a causal link between Alzheimer’s disease and fatty acids. However, a clinical study is needed to confirm this link. Dr. Legido-Quigley added: “Our study suggests that women should be careful to include omega fatty acids in their diet – through oily fish or supplements. However, clinical trials are needed to determine whether a change in lipid composition can influence the biological progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Knowing that the Disease Progresses Differently in Women Could Improve Treatment Measures in the Future
According to Dr. Asger Wretlind, first author of the study from King’s College London, it has been known for some time that more women than men are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Although this needs further research, the scientists were able to identify biological differences in lipids between the sexes in a large cohort and show the importance of omega-containing lipids in the blood, which has not been done before. They are now investigating how early in life this change occurs in women.
While the study would show that women with Alzheimer’s have lower levels of certain unsaturated fats compared to men, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this difference and whether lifestyle changes, including diet, could play a role. Future research should also be conducted on a more ethnically diverse population to see if the same effect occurs. Understanding how the disease progresses differently in women could help physicians customize future treatments and health recommendations.