Fish is good for the brain. Is it because it allows you to sleep better and therefore learn better? Indeed, we know that sleep facilitates learning and consolidation of memory. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the NIH wanted to know if fish consumption promotes sleep and cognitive performance in young people.

For this, they studied 541 Chinese children who were part of the China Jintan Cohort Study . Their fish consumption and sleep were assessed between 9 and 11 years and their IQ measured at 12 years. The results were published online December 21 in the journal Scientific Reports .

Sleep promotes learning

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for nervous tissue

The study suggests that fish consumption improves the quality of sleep, which promotes children’s cognitive performance. It should be noted, however, that this is an observational study that highlights an association, but it does not prove a causal link. The results do seem however to confirm that the fish is good for the brain.

How to explain this link between fish, sleep and IQ? Many kinds of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is used to build cell membranes . Animal studies suggest that DHA is involved in controlling the production of melatonin , which is used to regulate circadian rhythm and improve sleep. Omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are widely studied for their strengths in cardiovascular and mental health.

Salmon, trout, sardines, herring and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These play a role in the nervous tissue, its structure and its plasticity.

Other studies have shown a link between fish consumption and the cognitive abilities of adults. For example, a 2014 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that adults who eat fish regularly have more gray matter in parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus .

WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER

• The children who eat the most fish sleep better and their IQ is higher.
• This could be related to omega-3s that promote brain health and help control sleep.
• Oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Source: https://www.futura-sciences.com/health/news/children-child-mangent-fish-would-have-more-fast-69679/