Lower levels of healthy fats linked to Alzheimer’s in women

A new study published today suggests unsaturated fats could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease in women, but not in men.

The research was supported by funding from LundbeckFonden and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Dr Petra Poitsi, a researcher for Alzheimer’s Research UK, was the co-senior author on the study.

In the UK, two in three people living with dementia are women. This could be because women typically live longer, or due to other factors like social isolation, education, or hormonal changes from menopause.

However, we don’t fully understand why dementia is more common in women. Separately, research also suggests a balanced diet may help to maintain our memory and thinking abilities. So studies that further our understanding of these differences are crucial.

What did the research find?

Researchers in this study looked at blood samples from people with Alzheimer’s. They found that women with early Alzheimer’s had lower levels of some unsaturated fats, such as omega-3s, than women without the disease.

However, when analysing the same fats in men’s blood, they did not see a difference between men with and without the disease. This suggests that changes in fat levels could be a specific feature of Alzheimer’s disease in women.

Although more research is needed, this study opens up new avenues for research, it highlights the importance of fats containing omega-3s in the blood.

The study was the first to show differences in fats between men and women with Alzheimer’s. “This has not been done before,” says Dr Asger Writland, first author of the study from King’s College London.  “The results are very striking and now we are looking at how early in life this change occurs in women.”

What do we know about diet and dementia?

Research suggests that eating a balanced diet may help to maintain our memory and thinking abilities. Although the evidence is still building, some studies suggest that following the Mediterranean or a similar healthy diet could reduce dementia risk.

This could be because what we eat affects our overall health. Having a healthy diet also prevents other risk factors linked to dementia, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

If you want to know more about what you could do to reduce the risk of dementia, then you can go to our Think Brain Health Check-in here.

What are unsaturated fats?

Fats perform many essential functions in our bodies like keeping us warm, providing energy and making hormones. Unsaturated fats are considered healthy to eat. Unsaturated fats include omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for human health.

Our bodies can’t make omega-3 fatty acids directly, so we must get them from the foods we eat. They can be found in foods like oily fish, chia seeds and walnuts.

While omega-3 fats are an important part of a healthy diet, it’s too early to say if they directly protect our brain health. Research is ongoing to see if taking omega-3 supplements has any effect on the risk of dementia.

Does this mean unsaturated fats could protect women against Alzheimer’s?

These findings highlight one possible reason behind why women are more likely to be affected by dementia than men.

The results are interesting but come from early research. Experts say that more work is needed before we can say whether maintaining higher levels of ‘healthy fats’ could have a protective effect in women.

It’s also too soon to say if lower levels of unsaturated fats contribute to dementia, or if they are the result of the disease. It could also be that other factors are driving the effect.

“Further research will be needed to understand any mechanisms behind this difference and, ultimately, if any changes to lifestyle, including diet might have a role,” says Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK.

“It also needs to address if the same effect is seen in a more ethnically diverse population” Dr Dudley adds.

Final thoughts

It’s been known for some time that women are more likely to be affected by dementia than men. More research will help us to understand why this might be the case.

“Understanding how the disease works differently in women could help doctors tailor future treatments and health advice,” says Dr Dudley. “Alzheimer’s Research UK is proud to be funding this work that will bring us a step closer to a cure.”