Comments on: Omega-3 improves working memory in healthy young adults

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:38:26 +0000

That’s why I said below “the only merit seems to be[...]“.

Well, I think the task you describe is much harder than n-back, the one used in the research. (as far as I can tell)

By: Dr.Pratt

Dr.Pratt — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:28:15 +0000

Practice effects ? Learning may have taken place, on how to encode the data. But If there was no testing for 6 months, that would eliminate all but the very best memories anyway. A task like AFXC 7391 recall letters first in alphebetical order, followed by the numbers in their countable order in pairs: So the correct response would be A1 C3 F7 X9. If a task like this showed improvement….you have improved memory.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:11:18 +0000

hahhaha! I hope they are not as sensitive as Bri (was?)…

Just as a warning though, they do mention “controls” there, but they are controls to themselves (as baselines), thus my previous comment on a possible “training effect”… (just once, except for mentions of other research most to do with polyunsaturated fatty acids, which doesnt count because, well, it is “other’s research” =))

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 23:51:15 +0000

Nah, I let ‘em have it :)

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:22:13 +0000

Nah… It would deserve more respect. ;)

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:18:39 +0000

I just added a related study published Tuesday (Oct. 30) to References: Association between fish consumption, long chain omega 3 fatty acids, and risk of cerebrovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis, BMJ 2012;345:e6698, Oct. 30, 2012 (open access). Conclusion: available observational data indicate moderate, inverse associations of fish consumption and long chain omega 3 fatty acids with cerebrovascular risk.

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:11:30 +0000

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:05:57 +0000

I trust your finesse have filtered their.. raw.. form. =)

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:00:15 +0000

It apparently already has…

By: Editor

Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:27:08 +0000

I forwarded your excellent questions to the researchers.

By: Mr.X

Mr.X — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:04:12 +0000

Nice reply;) Maybe a troll!?

By: Philip

Philip — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:05:41 +0000

Btw correct ratio is 1:1 (Omega 6 to Omega 3) or even 1:2, WHO or USDA food pyramid are jokes too.

By: Alain Tapp

Alain Tapp — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:55:53 +0000

No control group and only 11 subject.
I am skeptical. Is this science?

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:52:16 +0000

wow.. i just followed the link, and apparently no controls at all!!
The only merit seems to be no “training” during the 6 months, but this is insufficient to rule out a “training effect” for the simple matter of having done it before. (not to mention no way of telling they havent practiced on their own, specially with such a low sample size! 11 indiviiduals!)
How hard it is to add a few placebo controls? we already know people improve in the n-back task! I want to know by how much omega-3 boosts this effect, or rather, by how much lack of omega-3 decreases it.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:38:13 +0000

Omega-3 “works” for everyone, it is an indispensable structural element.
What I want are percentages. Quantitative details. Pragmatic information. NOT THIS!

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:35:22 +0000

You obviously smoke it too.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:33:12 +0000

They probably have controls, as you say, it would be unacceptable otherwise. BUT, this summary states nothing about it! Have you followed the link? I didnt, so I cant confirm… but at least this summary is incomplete. If the study itself doesn’t, well, I quote your friend there too then..

By: high carbfoods

high carbfoods — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:23:45 +0000

As a regular senior user of Hemp seeds in cereals for many years, I can say it promotes cellular healing, noticeable. Hemp offers the correct natural ratio of about 4:1 ( Omega 6 to Omega 3) recommended by the WHO as the optimal ration that body requires. We consume anywhere 10 to 20:1 which causes inflammation. So, these facts demand our consideration before you hear otherwise. MY findings there is no conflict and I am not funded by anyone in the Universe!

By: Sherrie

Sherrie — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:45:54 +0000

Poor article for Kurzweil.

By: omran al-kandari

omran al-kandari — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:45:20 +0000

Maybe what they meant it works better for people at this age , but as you said this is nothing new at all.

By: Doc c

Doc c — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:12:41 +0000

No controls?! Funded by the government. What a waste of money. We know almost nothing more than we did before this trial. As one physicist I know put it, bad science is not even science at all.

By: GatorALLin

GatorALLin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:36:26 +0000

Love to hear how this may also work (or not) for 26-45 range or older.

So many of the 18-25 are already taking Adderall or other “study drugs”, so I hope they removed those other issues from the study. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adderall

http://www.studydrugs.net/

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:34:03 +0000

Incomplete. How they compare to controls? Even older, non-omega-3 ingesting individuals (not measured) have been shown to improve in the n-back test (up and beyond 6-back) for much shorter periods of time.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:03:10 +0000

I was born in 1987 and turn 26 in 2013, does that mean that this is the last year Omega-3 will work for me?