ÔMEGA-3 E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NA DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER
ÔMEGA-3 E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NA DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.7862408052
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Palavras-chave: Ácidos Graxos ômega-3; Doença Alzheimer; Nutrição Idoso
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Keywords: Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Alzheimer's disease; Elderly Nutrition
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Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic and degenerative neurological condition characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein fragments and intraneuronal tangles of the tau protein. This condition manifests itself through cognitive and memory decline, with key symptoms including delusions, irritability, tremors, disinhibition, difficulty concentrating, hallucinations, short-term memory loss, and sleep disturbances. It predominantly affects elderly people, generally aged between 65 and 85 years, with an average life expectancy of eight to ten years after diagnosis. Omega-3 supplementation, alone or in combination with other supplements, has been considered an auxiliary therapeutic approach in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and results in the reduction of symptoms and improvement of the clinical picture, especially when administered in the early stages of the disease. . Omega-3 is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, a type of essential lipid and therefore needs to be obtained through the diet. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to verify the impact of omega-3 supplementation in patients diagnosed with AD. METHODS: This is a bibliographic review of scientific articles carried out in the PubMed and SciELO databases, published in the period between 2012 and 2022, in addition to books, related to the manifestation of visible clinical and pre-clinical symptoms of the disease , as well as prevention and treatment, with the search for keywords using the Boolean technique "AND" and "OR". DEVELOPMENT: Omega-3 supplementation shows promising potential in preventing Alzheimer's, due to its protective properties against the loss of neurons in the hippocampus and its ability to reduce oxidative stress. However, it is important to highlight that in advanced stages of the disease, there is no consistent evidence to prove the effectiveness of omega-3 as a treatment or delayer of cognitive decline. In the context of physiological aging, there is a tendency towards a decrease in fatty acids present in nervous tissues, which justifies the need for supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It is worth noting that the therapeutic effects of omega-3 can be optimized when used in conjunction with other interventions, such as physical activity, cognitive training and nutritional counseling. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is possible to infer that, due to the chronic, degenerative and inflammatory nature of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the inclusion of Omega 3 in the diet or its administration through supplementation can potentially offer benefits in the treatment of individuals in early stages of this disease. This conjecture is based on the anti-inflammatory properties attributed to this fatty acid, which have been corroborated by studies, resulting in the attenuation of symptoms and the inflammatory response associated with AD. However, it is important to point out that, in the more advanced stages of the disease, the scientific literature does not offer substantial evidence capable of supporting the effectiveness of Omega 3 as a therapeutic measure or to prevent cognitive decline.
- Nicole Oliveira
- Laura Marques do Nascimento
- Natalia Rodrigues Ribeiro
- Raphaela Fabiana Andrade Cáceres Brás
- Julia Trinca Romano
- Karina Lopes Wolak
- Edna Silva Costa