Studies show that having more of certain healthy fats in your red blood cells doesn't seem to make your memory or thinking any better if you're an older adult who's otherwise healthy.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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55

Cognitive performance in older adults is inversely associated with fish consumption but not erythrocyte membrane n-3 fatty acids.

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2014 Mar

This study found that older adults with more omega-3 fatty acids in their blood didn’t perform better on memory or thinking tests, and eating more fish didn’t help either—so it doesn’t look like these fats boost brainpower in older people.

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Source Study

Cognitive performance in older adults is inversely associated with fish consumption but not erythrocyte membrane n-3 fatty acids.

Score: 55

DOI: 10.3945/jn.113.175695

Similar Assertions

When older adults with memory problems eat more omega-3 fats from fish or supplements, their bodies show less of a type of cell damage linked to aging and brain decline.

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Eating more fish or having more omega-3 fatty acids in your body doesn't seem to help your brain work better if you're an older adult who's already thinking clearly.

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Elderly people with memory problems who eat more fish oil-like fats (DHA and EPA) tend to have less damage from harmful molecules in their blood, which might help protect their brains.

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When older male rats eat more DHA—a healthy fat found in fish—their brains produce less of a protein that normally trims brain connections too much as they age, which might help them keep their memory and thinking skills longer.

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