Imperial, California - Fish oil may help improve cognitive flexibility in seniors, according to researchers at the University of Illinois.  The Association of Mature American Citizens reports that there have been several studies in recent years that suggest fish may indeed be "brain food," as our parents used to tell us.

Aron Barbey, a professor of neuroscience, was co-leader of the newest study.  In reporting the results, he said the "research suggests that there is a critical link between nutritional deficiencies and the incidence of both cognitive [mental] impairment and degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease."

Barbey and his colleagues found that Omega-3 fish oils helped participants in the study to do better in tests that measured brain function.

They cautioned that the research did not show fish oil can help prevent Alzheimer's Disease.  But, they said: "our findings add to the evidence that optimal nutrition helps preserve cognitive function, slow the progression of aging and reduce the incidence of debilitating diseases in healthy aging populations."