Omega-3 fatty acids may protect the brain against Parkinson's disease, Canadian researchers have found.
The disease is caused by the death of nerve cells responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine that is required to control movement.
No existing medicines are able to stop the process of nerve cell death, but researchers at the Universite Laval believe omega-3 fatty acids may be able to prevent Parkinson's disease and slow down its progression.
Mice fed on an omega-3 rich diet were found to be immune to MPTP, a compound that causes brain damage similar to that found in Parkinson's.
However, mice that were injected with MPTP after living on an ordinary diet developed symptoms of the disease.
The researchers suggest that a diet rich in omega-3, in particular docosahexanoic acid (DHA), may provide a protective effect against Parkinson's.
Around one in 500 people have Parkinson's disease in the UK.
Omega-3 fatty acids may protect the brain against Parkinson's disease, Canadian researchers have found.
