3 Reasons Why Omega 3 & 6 Can Help Seniors

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids have made headlines before for being extremely beneficial for a healthy heart. For this reason, omega-rich foods and supplements are often prescribed by doctors to elderly patients in order to lessen the risk of heart attack brought by age and lifestyle. However, Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids have much more benefits for senior citizens besides a robust vascular system.

A consistent supply of Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids is especially important because the body cannot produce these essential fatty acids on their own. Omega 3, in particular, is needed to produce the body’s alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is an important factor for digestion, regulating inflammation, and creating energy for the body. Omega 6’s linoleic acid (LA), on the other hand, is required to keep tissues elastic and healthy, particularly that of organs that keep our bodies running properly.

For older adults, Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids are especially important to combat the natural deterioration caused by ageing. Aside from keeping a healthy heart, here are some reasons how these essential fatty acids change the limitations of senior citizens:

One of the biggest complaints of older individuals is the frailty that comes with ageing. It is inconvenient and frustrating to not be able to do things as easily at the peak of your health, and frailty becomes the reason why seniors become less physically active, something that you need to keep a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, mobility issues serve as markers of cognitive decline, but this can be prevented through an intervention early on.

According to a research paper funded by ActivHealth, Omega 3 fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help in keeping older adults mobile and less frail. The study tested a group of women averaging 67 years in age and found that those who had a higher level of DHA have better gait speed, verbal memory and cognitive processing than those on placebo. (1)

As Omega 3 & 6 help keep your mobility even in your advanced years, it also helps you keep your brain in peak condition. These fatty acids have been found to be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline, as evidenced by a study on 246 healthy older people with DHA blood levels measured and cross-checked with their cognitive abilities for four years. The study showed that those with higher DHA and EPA levels have a 40% lower risk of cognitive decline. (2)

Aside from that, those with a higher level of blood DHA showed a 47% less risk for dementia, according to a study of a group of 899 healthy older individuals averaging 76 years of age on their intake of fish servings per week. (3) Another study found that those who ate fish at least once a week had a 60% less risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease versus those who rarely ate fish. Fish is known to be a healthy source of EPA and DHA fatty acids, and the study linked low DHA intake directly with the chance of Alzheimer’s Disease development. (4)

Even if you do not develop a disease, older individuals still suffer from memory loss as the brain’s functions become less robust in the advanced years. DHA is demonstrated to help in significantly improving sustained attention and memory recognition as it is partnered with phosphatidylserine found in Gingko Biloba extracts. (5)

In 2010, a study by the Northumbria University in partnership with Efamol Ltd is exploring the efficacy of a combination of Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids versus those in isolation. This study explored the effects of Efamol Efalex Active 50+ on cognitive performance, mental fatigue in response to cognitively demanding tasks, self-reported mood/well-being, and task-related cerebral blood flow response. (6)

At the same time, better cognitive functions help keep older adults more stable psychologically. As fish resources help with blood DHA levels, it is also found that adequate Omega fatty acid levels in our bodies help stabilize our moods. Those with a lower intake of Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids demonstrate a higher chance to develop depression and anxiety and according to studies, prescriptions of fish oil rich in Omega 3 & 6 may help curtail the chances of mood-related disorders. (7)

When it comes to adequate Omega-3 & 6 in our diets, it is not enough to rely on food sources alone. Supplementing your diet with Efamol Efalex Active 50+ can help you reach the right levels of Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids in your diet, allowing you to fully make use of the benefits above. Efamol Efalex Active 50+ also has added Gingko Biloba that can help keep dementia and Alzheimer’s at bay, as well as additional folate and Vitamin B12 that can help hinder the production of white matter-damaging homocysteine.

Get your Efamol Efalex Efalex Active 50+ from wellbeingsg.com/ today.

Effects of Treatment on Cognition and Mobility: Activhealth: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://activhealth.com.sg/research-papers/omega/effects-of-treatment-on-cognition-and-mobility
Heude B, Ducimetiere P, Berr C, 2003, Cognitive decline and fatty acid composition of erythrocyte membranes—The EVA Study, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 77:803-808, https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/77/4/803/4689750
Schaefer EJ, Bongard V, Beiser AS, Lamon-Fava S, Robins SJ, Au R, Tucker KL, Kyle DJ, Wilson PW, Wolf PA, 2006, Plasma phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid content and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease: the Framingham Heart Study, JAMA Neurology, 63:1545-1550, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17101822
Morris MC, Evans Dam Bienis JL, Tangney CC, Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Aggarwal N, Schneider J, 2003, Consumption of fish and N-3 fatty acids and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease, JAMA Neurology, 60(7):940-946, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12873849
Vakhapova V, Cohen T, Richter Y, Herzog Y, Kam Y, Korczyn AD, 2013, Phosphatidylserine Containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Improve Memory Abilities in Non-demented Elderly Individuals with Memory Complaints: Results from an Open-Label Extension Study Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 38(1-2):39-45
Kennedy, D. (2010). The Effects of Efalex Active 50+ on Cognitive Performance, Well-being and Cerebral Hemodynamics in Healthy Older Adults – Full Text View. Retrieved November 11, 2020, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01185379
Larrieu, T., & Layé, S. (2018). Food for Mood: Relevance of Nutritional Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Depression and Anxiety. Frontiers in physiology, 9, 1047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01047