{*filter*}age boys who eat fish at least once a week achieve higher intelligence
scores
March 9th, 2009
Fif{*filter*}-year-old males who ate fish at least once a week displayed higher
cognitive skills at the age of 18 than those who it ate it less frequently,
according to a study of nearly 4,000 {*filter*}agers published in the March issue
of Acta Paediatrica.
Eating fish once a week was enough to increase combined, verbal and
visuospatial intelligence scores
< http://www.***.com/ +scores> by an average of six per
cent, while eating fish more than once a week increased them by just under
11 per cent.
Swedish researchers compared the responses of 3,972 males who took part in
the survey with the cognitive scores recorded in their Swedish Military
Conscription records three years later.
"We found a clear link between frequent fish consumption
< http://www.***.com/ +consumption> and higher scores when the
{*filter*}agers < http://www.***.com/ {*filter*}agers> ate fish at least once a
week" says Professor Kjell Torn from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the
University of Gothenburg, one of the senior scientists involved in the
study. "When they ate fish more than once a week the improvement almost
doubled.
"These findings are significant because the study was carried out between
the ages of 15 and 18 when educational achievements can help to shape the
rest of a young man's life."
The research team found that:
? 58 per cent of the boys who took part in the study ate fish at least once
a week and a further 20 per cent ate fish more than once a week.
? When male {*filter*}agers ate fish more than once a week their combined
intelligence scores were on average 12 per cent higher than those who ate
fish less than once a week. {*filter*}agers who ate fish once a week scored seven
per cent higher.
? The verbal intelligence scores for {*filter*}agers who ate fish more than once a
week were on average nine per cent higher than those who ate fish less than
once a week. Those who ate fish once a week scored four per cent higher.
? The same pattern was seen in the visuospatial intelligence scores, with
{*filter*}agers who ate fish more than once a week scoring on average 11 per cent
higher than those who ate fish less than once a week. Those who ate fish
once a week scored seven per cent higher.
"A number of studies have already shown that fish can help neurodevelopment
in infants, reduce the risk of impaired cognitive function from middle age
onwards and benefit babies born to women who ate fish during pregnancy" says
Professor Torn.
"However we believe that this is the first large-scale study to explore the
effect on adolescents."
The exact mechanism that links fish consumption to improved cognitive
performance < http://www.***.com/ +performance> is still
not clear.
"The most widely held theory is that it is the long-chain polyunsaturated
fatty acids found in fish that have positive effects on cognitive
performance" explains Professor Torn.
"Fish contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are known to
accumulate in the brain when the foetus is developing. Other theories have
been put forward that highlight their vascular and anti-inflammatory
properties and their role in suppressing cytokines, chemicals that can
affect the immune system."
In order to isolate the effect of fish consumption on the study subjects,
the research team looked at a wide range of variables, including ethnicity,
where they lived, their parents' educational level, the {*filter*}agers'
well-being, how frequently they exercised and their weight.
"Having looked very carefully at the wide range of variables explored by
this study it was very clear that there was a significant association
between regular fish consumption at 15 and improved cognitive performance at
18" concludes lead author Dr Maria Aberg from the Centre for Brain Repair
and Rehabilitation at the University of Gothenburg.
"We also found the same association between fish and intelligence in the
{*filter*}agers regardless of their parents' level of education."
The researchers are now keen to carry out further research to see if the
kind of fish consumed - for example lean fish in fish fingers or fatty fish
such as salmon - makes any difference to the results.
"But for the time being it appears that including fish in a diet can make a
valuable contribution to cognitive performance in male {*filter*}agers" says Dr
Aberg.
More information: Fish intake of Swedish male adolescents is a predictor of
cognitive performance. Aberg et al. Acta Paediatrica. 98.3, pp 555-560.
(March 2009).
Source: Wiley
http://www.***.com/
fish & IQ