DHA in Fish Oil Limits Brain Damage after Stroke
Ischemic strokes result from loss of blood flow to an area of the brain due to a blockage such as a clot or atherosclerosis. The damage includes an irreversibly injured core of tissue at the site of the blockage. DHA seems to shield the brain against damage from blood clots or atherosclerosis. “We are just now beginning to understand the significant impact of omega-3 essential fatty acids on stroke,” explained Dr. Nicolas Bazan, Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center, and author of the study. “[E]ach new discovery brings us closer to defeating stroke and other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases.”
According to the researchers, DHA can reduce the swelling and restore neurological function and speed up the recovery process and perhaps even prevent permanent brain damage. The sooner the oil is given, the better it acts at reducing permanent tissue damage. “We are in an unprecedented time, from a public health point of view, in regards to tackling stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders,” concludes Dr. Bazan.
“Stroke is an outright attack on the nervous system, and each year stroke kills over 150,000 Americans. Truly for the first time, translational research and the clinics are poised to converge in their public health efforts to combat stroke. From a therapeutic point of view, we can now see a light at the end of the tunnel. This would be a major step forward in fighting this disease.”
Source: Docosahexaenoic Acid Therapy of Experimental Ischemic Stroke, Translational Stroke Research, 11/2010
