Although I’m still wondering how Grandma knew “fish is brain food”, while leafing through my latest issue of Archives of Neurology, I came across another neat study that illustrates how beneficial DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) is for your brain.

The data, derived from the Framingham Heart Study, showed people who’s blood level of DHA was in the top quartile had a 47% reduction in the risk of developing dementia (Alzheimer’s disease, multi-infarct dementia, etc…).

DHA is primarily found in cold water, fatty fish. Fish basically accumulate DHA in their bodies from eating green algae, father than producing it themselves.

As access to non-toxic fish diminishes, however, other sources of DHA are badly needed.

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Most forms of dementia are not very treatable or reversible. For example, there is not much you can really do for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or multi-infarct dementia when it comes to reversing the memory loss and cognitive decline.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalous and Celiac disease, however, are two fairly common reversible dementias frequently misdiagnosed and overlooked.

Celiac disease affects about 1 in 133 people (reference: webmd). About 10% of these patients will develop nervous system involvement. Previously, not much has been published linking celiac disease to memory decline and dementia, so most neurologists and primary care doctors will have never made the connection. Recently, however, new research from the Mayo Clinic has come out describing many such cases. Patients affected were as young as 45 and as old as 79.

Importantly, celiac disease is quite easy to treat. The disease is thought to result from an abnormal immune response to gluten, which is found in products containing wheat, barley and rye. This abnormal immune response is thought to attack and degrade the brain. So the treatment is to merely cut these types of food out of your diet. In those neurological patients affected, the dementia tends to clear quite rapidly.

If you or a family member is developing brain decline, make sure your neurologist or primary care doctor has considered celiac disease as a potential diagnosis.

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