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Dementia is a serious cognitive disorder in which there is a long-term decline in cognitive function, affecting functions such as memory, attention, speech and problem solving. The progression of dementia is associated with the normal ageing process and is extremely common in the geriatric population. There are approximately 700,000 people with dementia in the UK. Risk of developing dementia increases with age, from 1 in 20 for those over 65, to 1 in 5 over the age of 80. Delaying the onset of dementia by just 5 years could reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by around 30,000 a year. There are many types of dementia, not all associated with age; indeed it can, technically, occur at any stage of life as a result of any form of brain damage. Of all the types of dementia, Alzheimer’s is probably the best known form. The symptoms of dementia include a general loss of memory, in which basic things like names and places become harder to recall, or difficulties in remembering recent events, such as what you ate for breakfast. Other symptoms include a general change in mood and problems with communicating as in talking, reading and writing. During the later stages of dementia, the person affected will have problems carrying out everyday tasks and will become increasingly dependent on other people.

Alzheimer’s disease is so called after German neurologist Alois Alzheimer who described the condition as a physical disease of the brain. Neurofibrillary ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ are protein masses that develop and, ultimately, lead to the death of brain cells. This, in turn, leads to a shortage of neurotransmitters that are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged and, as this happens, the symptoms become more severe.

Fatty acids help to form the phospholipids in the brain, which are vital for cell signalling. Cell signalling is important for brain function, the degeneration of which is the primary symptom of dementia. Without enough fatty acids, communication between our cells ceases to operate properly and this can have an adverse effect on brain function. Supplementing with EPA protects phospholipids by reducing the efficiency of the enzyme phospholipase A2, which acts like a pair of scissors releasing fatty acids from the cell membrane, and therefore improves cell signalling. EPA not only plays a major role in cell signalling but also contributes to the compaction and stabilisation of neurones and reduces the atrophy associated with the shrinking brain. The formation of neurofibrillary ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ which damages brain cells is complex, but has been shown to be suppressed by supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. Indeed, epidemiological and clinical evidence indicates that increasing omega-3 fatty acids may have a protective effect against dementia. Westernisation and the increased consumption of trans fats are also implicated in the progression of dementia. Foods which are highly processed and those which contain margarine, for example, often contain trans fats and should, ideally, be avoided.