Jaime Toro, MD reviewing Morris MC et al. JAMA 2016 Feb 2. Kröger E and Laforce R. JAMA 2016 Feb 2.

An analysis of autopsied cases suggests an inverse relation between seafood consumption and Alzheimer disease neuropathology.

The main risk factors for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD), age and the ApoE ?4 allele, offer no possibility of prevention, placing a premium on the identification of modifiable environmental factors. Research suggests that regular consumption of seafood is associated with decreased risk for incident dementia, although seafood consumption is also associated with increased levels of mercury in the brain, which is linked to neurocognitive impairment. In a cross-sectional analysis of autopsied cases, researchers examined the associations between seafood consumption, brain levels of mercury and selenium, and dementia pathologies.

The analysis focused on 286 participants in a memory and aging study who completed a dietary assessment, died between 2004 and 2013, and had a brain autopsy performed. Mean age at death was 90 years; 67% were women. Seafood consumption was significantly correlated with less AD neuropathology, including lower density of neuritic plaques and less severe neurofibrillary tangles. Brain mercury levels were correlated with the number of seafood meals consumed per week, but not with levels of brain neuropathology. Higher intake of α-linolenic acid was correlated with decreased risk for cerebral macroinfarcts. Fish-oil supplementation had no statistical correlation with brain neuropathology.

CITATION(S):

Morris MC et al. Association of seafood consumption, brain mercury level, and APOE ?4 status with brain neuropathology in older adults. JAMA 2016 Feb 2; 315:489. 

Kröger E and Laforce R.Fish consumption, brain mercury, and neuropathology in patients with Alzheimer disease and dementia. JAMA 2016 Feb 2; 315:465. 

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