What the Study Says <\/p>\n
The study, published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, found that women with Alzheimer\u2019s showed a notable decrease in unsaturated lipids\u2014especially those containing omega fatty acids\u2014compared to healthy women and men with Alzheimer’s.\n<\/p>\n
This suggests there may be sex-specific differences between how Alzheimer’s develops and progresses in women versus men, which may help explain why women are more frequently diagnosed with the disease, said Doha Ayish, MD<\/a>, a neurologist at Houston Methodist West Hospital.\n<\/p>\n It also suggests that a diet rich in omega-3s<\/a> could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease.<\/p>\n “Women make up almost two-thirds of people with Alzheimer\u2019s in America, so this could be a potential breakthrough in prevention and treatment that is much needed, as Alzheimer\u2019s is the sixth leading cause of death for Americans,” said Vanessa King, RD<\/a>, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\n<\/p>\n While King said more research is needed before any firm recommendations can be made about Alzheimer’s specifically, research shows that there are health benefits to an omega-3-rich diet \u2014 especially for women.<\/p>\n 1. You May Support Brain Health <\/p>\n In addition to the new Alzheimer’s study, other research has suggested that omega-3s are particularly critical for brain health<\/a> in women as they age.\n<\/p>\n A 2010 study found that omega-3s may help the brain work better, reduce inflammation and cell damage, and play a role in slowing changes linked to Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\n<\/p>\n This may be particularly important for women, who have a higher life expectancy and therefore a higher lifetime risk of cognitive decline<\/a> and dementia.<\/p>\n 2. You Could Get Bone and Joint Health Benefits <\/p>\n Omega-3s may also help keep bones healthy<\/a>. A 2025 study found that women who ate more omega-3s had a lower risk of osteoporosis, especially younger women.\n<\/p>\n A 2023 meta-analysis also found that omega-3 supplementation can help relieve pain and improve joint function in patients with osteoarthritis.<\/p>\n 3. You’ll Improve Your Heart Health <\/p>\n Omega-3s have long been touted for their protective effects against cardiovascular disease.\n<\/p>\n A report that reviewed over 7,000 studies found that getting omega-3s from fish or fish oil supplements can lower the risk of dying early<\/a> and protect against heart disease.\n<\/p>\n “In women specifically, omega-3 has been found to partially compensate for reduced estrogen\u2019s heart-protective effects in post-menopausal women,” Ayish added.\n<\/p>\n 4. You Could Boost Your Hormones and Fertility <\/p>\n A 2024 study review found that omega-3s can improve fertility by boosting pregnancy and fertilization rates, including for women doing IVF. Another study showed that omega-3s may also help women with PCOS by lowering testosterone levels and regulating periods.<\/p>\n 5. You May Support a Healthy Pregnancy <\/p>\n Omega-3s may help support a healthy pregnancy and fetal development for younger women.<\/p>\n “Omega-3s have been shown to support healthy fetal eye and brain development in pregnant women,” Ayish explained. “Adequate intake is also linked with lower risk of preterm birth and postpartum depression.”<\/p>\n Know the Sources of Omega-3s <\/p>\n Our bodies don’t produce omega-3s naturally, so the only way to get them is through diet or supplements.\n<\/p>\n Foods that are rich in Omega-3s include:\n<\/p>\n SalmonWalnutsChia seedsFlax seedsOmega-3 fortified eggs and dairy<\/p>\n “Whenever possible, getting omega-3s from food<\/a> should be the first choice,” King said.\n<\/p>\n “That said, if you don\u2019t eat much fish, nuts, or seeds, or simply struggle to meet your omega-3 needs through food alone, a high-quality supplement can help fill the gap. Just make sure to choose one that\u2019s third-party tested,” she added.\n<\/p>\n Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process<\/a> to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.<\/p>\n Wretlind A, Xu J, Chen W, et al. Lipid profiling reveals unsaturated lipid reduction in women with Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>.\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s & Dementia. 2025;21(8):e70512.doi:10.1002\/alz.70512<\/p>\n Robinson JG, Ijioma N, Harris W. Omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive function in women<\/a>.\u00a0Womens Health (Lond Engl). 2010;6(1):119-134.doi:10.2217\/WHE.09.75<\/p>\n Liu Z, Cai S, Chen Y, et al. The association between dietary omega-3 intake and osteoporosis: a NHANES cross-sectional study<\/a>.\u00a0Front Nutr. 2025;11:1467559.doi:10.3389\/fnut.2024.1467559<\/p>\n Deng, W., Yi, Z., Yin, E.\u00a0et al.\u00a0Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation for patients with osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis<\/a>.\u00a0J Orthop Surg Res\u00a018, 381 (2023).doi:10.1186\/s13018-023-03855-w<\/p>\n Tufts-New England Medical Center EPC, Boston, Massachusetts. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on<\/a><\/p>\n Cardiovascular Disease.<\/a><\/p>\n Nadjarzadeh A, Dehghani Firouzabadi R, Vaziri N, Daneshbodi H, Lotfi MH, Mozaffari-Khosravi H. The effect of omega-3 supplementation on androgen profile and menstrual status in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized clinical trial<\/a>. Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(8):665-672.<\/p>\n Trop-Steinberg S, Gal M, Azar Y, Kilav-Levin R, Heifetz EM. Effect of omega-3 supplements or diets on fertility in women: A meta-analysis<\/a>.\u00a0Heliyon. 2024;10(8):e29324.doi:10.1016\/j.heliyon.2024.e29324<\/p>\n Coletta JM, Bell SJ, Roman AS. Omega-3 fatty acids and pregnancy<\/a>.\u00a0Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;3(4):163.<\/p>\n![\"Mira](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/FE3F9AD2-9085-40B8-8E8E-AF95656B0B37-048bcc651b0f4063b40038d3df45e712.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n