A fish supplement improved memory in lower-scoring older adults
After three months, adjusted episodic-memory error scores were 11.75 points lower with the supplement than placebo in 53 healthy adults aged 60–73 with lower memory performance.
3 months, double-blind, placebo-controlled, registered NCT04910399
Limit: The trial was small, studying 53 people over three months
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Researchers studied 53 healthy older adults aged 60 to 73 with lower memory performance for their age in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Participants took fish hydrolysate or placebo daily for three months. The supplement provided 1 gram of small protein fragments and 30 milligrams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.
Compared with placebo, the supplement improved episodic memory—memory for events and experiences—on a paired-learning test. Participants completed more patterns and made fewer errors at higher difficulty levels. Working memory, which briefly holds information for use, showed partial improvement, notably on a spatial strategy test. Verbal recognition did not differ between groups. Supplementation also increased omega-3 fatty acid levels in red blood cells and lowered blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.
Why it matters
Cognitive decline with age can threaten independence. This trial addressed whether a nutritional supplement could support memory in older adults whose memory performance was lower than expected for their age.
Caveats
The trial was small, studying 53 people over three months, and the abstract does not report adverse events. The findings concern healthy adults aged 60 to 73 selected for lower memory performance, not older adults generally or people with dementia.
The paper
Université de Bordeaux
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 19, 2026, Open access
doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101360PubMed 42162916
Corrected, Oct 27, 2026
