Link: http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/omega-3-fatty-acids-reduce-stroke-brain-damage-u-s-study-1.3041466
Title: Omega- 3 Fatty Acids Reduce Stroke Brain Damage
Author: Not Given
Summary:
In a study conducted at the Columbia University Medical Center, researches have potentially unlocked a previously unforeseen benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids. These lipid compounds it seems, could potentially have the ability to help repair damage caused by strokes. The team made the discovery by experimenting on mice who had undergone strokes early in their lives. These strokes commonly cause the mice to have problems such as higher sensitivity to pain, issues with vision, and even problems controlling muscles. The team injected their 10-day old mice with two different types of fatty acids, EPA & DHA, both of which belonged to the Omega-3 family. Quickly, the potential effectiveness of the treatment began to show; just one day following the treatment, the mice injected with DHA began to show reduction in brain damage. In the following weeks, the "DHA mice" continued to make progress, showing better brain function and control than the test mice which had been left untreated. While the overall research is in its early stages, the results indicated promising benefits are possible. If humans react in the same way as the mice, a new treatment for stroke repair could be on its way.
The studies show that the mice are able to recover after a stroke because the omega-3 fatty acids will aid in protecting the brain mitochondria against the effects of free radicals. Although this worked on rats, it is not known if it works for human infants and adults.
ReplyDeleteOmega-3's seem to have some serious medical healing power. I'd like to learn more about the action of omega-3's to see what it is about them that makes them so useful as "healers" after something like a stroke. It worked in mice after ten days; I wonder how much elapsed time is "too much time" for the omega-3 injection to do its magic.
ReplyDeleteI think your article supports some questions produced in my article. If Omega-3 fatty acids can be directly connected to improvements of the brain after stroke, then, maybe they can be directly connected to the prevention of hippocampal deterioration as the brain ages. In the study discussed by my article, the only setback is that other factors besides omega-3 levels could be affecting the brain study.
ReplyDeleteYour article deals with similar issues as mine. It is amazing how Omega-3 is able to assist the healing process in both outwards force trauma and stroke. While both of our article talks about how Omega-3 are great for brain recovery, there need to be clinical trials on human to draw the final conclusion of this matter.
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