Dr. Andy Galpin

However, you might be surprised to know I'm not aware of any direct evidence of omega-3s and TBIs. So this is a great example of me saying, hey, look, there's still a lot of good tangential or indirect evidence here, so much I feel like it's overwhelming, but not necessarily that much directly on TBIs. For the reasons we've described earlier, they're just hard studies to carry out.

However, you might be surprised to know I'm not aware of any direct evidence of omega-3s and TBIs. So this is a great example of me saying, hey, look, there's still a lot of good tangential or indirect evidence here, so much I feel like it's overwhelming, but not necessarily that much directly on TBIs. For the reasons we've described earlier, they're just hard studies to carry out.

In general, what you're going to see is, frankly, they work. They work for both pre and post impacts. The SOE is technically three here. And you generally see main effects and benefits from cerebral perfusion. So this is getting that blood and oxygen and flow of nutrients in and out of the brain.

In general, what you're going to see is, frankly, they work. They work for both pre and post impacts. The SOE is technically three here. And you generally see main effects and benefits from cerebral perfusion. So this is getting that blood and oxygen and flow of nutrients in and out of the brain.

Remember, the primary cause of injury there is that structural, that tissue and that axon shearing, that kind of ripping apart. And so what that does is cause that cascade of secondary insults that mismatch the blood flow and the metabolic demand. We talked about that earlier. Omega-3s land right on that problem for solutions.

Remember, the primary cause of injury there is that structural, that tissue and that axon shearing, that kind of ripping apart. And so what that does is cause that cascade of secondary insults that mismatch the blood flow and the metabolic demand. We talked about that earlier. Omega-3s land right on that problem for solutions.

And the reason is it helps dramatically with what's called arterial pliability and compliance. And so when we're having issues getting blood in, the arteries can either be broke or damaged or stiff, and omega-3s really help it become more pliable and pliable. open and close more effectively is one way to think about it.

And the reason is it helps dramatically with what's called arterial pliability and compliance. And so when we're having issues getting blood in, the arteries can either be broke or damaged or stiff, and omega-3s really help it become more pliable and pliable. open and close more effectively is one way to think about it.

It's also why you see so much evidence and research on omega-3s for heart health and blood pressure and so on and so forth has the same effect essentially in the brain. Other thing it does that's a huge benefit outside of that cerebral perfusion is it modulates inflammation post-injury by regulating that ROS, reactive oxygen species.

It's also why you see so much evidence and research on omega-3s for heart health and blood pressure and so on and so forth has the same effect essentially in the brain. Other thing it does that's a huge benefit outside of that cerebral perfusion is it modulates inflammation post-injury by regulating that ROS, reactive oxygen species.

It interacts with all kinds of cytokines like interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha, if you're familiar with those. If not, don't worry about it. Even actually, there's one in particular called NFKB. Brain folks will know exactly what I'm talking about here. This actually, functionally, it affects gene expression of a bunch of inflammatory things, so it kind of cuts off inflammation at the genetic level.

It interacts with all kinds of cytokines like interleukin-1 and TNF-alpha, if you're familiar with those. If not, don't worry about it. Even actually, there's one in particular called NFKB. Brain folks will know exactly what I'm talking about here. This actually, functionally, it affects gene expression of a bunch of inflammatory things, so it kind of cuts off inflammation at the genetic level.

So lots of ways that it has an impact. To give you a couple specific examples, one of the most common issues associated with TBI Long-term is called atrophy of the hippocampus. Now that's associated in one of the areas that's mainly responsible for learning and memory. And we know that those are problems, right?

So lots of ways that it has an impact. To give you a couple specific examples, one of the most common issues associated with TBI Long-term is called atrophy of the hippocampus. Now that's associated in one of the areas that's mainly responsible for learning and memory. And we know that those are problems, right?

We know that higher omega-3 intake is associated with a bigger hippocampal volume, right? So we have cross-sectional studies here, longitudinal ones that suggest that people that consume more tend to have a larger hippocampus. And we also see a significant increase in these areas at the dosage of about 2.2 grams per day.

We know that higher omega-3 intake is associated with a bigger hippocampal volume, right? So we have cross-sectional studies here, longitudinal ones that suggest that people that consume more tend to have a larger hippocampus. And we also see a significant increase in these areas at the dosage of about 2.2 grams per day.

2.2 grams of fish oil per day associated with a bigger hippocampus, therefore potential to improve or enhance our learning and memory. Similar things have been done with memory specifically. In fact, one study looked at, I think it was a combination of 900 milligrams of EPA plus 260 milligrams of DHA. And that resulted in greater accuracy and speed of recall tasks. So mental recall memory.

2.2 grams of fish oil per day associated with a bigger hippocampus, therefore potential to improve or enhance our learning and memory. Similar things have been done with memory specifically. In fact, one study looked at, I think it was a combination of 900 milligrams of EPA plus 260 milligrams of DHA. And that resulted in greater accuracy and speed of recall tasks. So mental recall memory.

EPA in general is often really associated with cognitive function, and the DHA is associated with axonal injuries. It works on a thing called neurofilament light, or NFL, and that's actually been specifically shown in college football players, I believe, again, at that two grams per day dosage of DHA.

EPA in general is often really associated with cognitive function, and the DHA is associated with axonal injuries. It works on a thing called neurofilament light, or NFL, and that's actually been specifically shown in college football players, I believe, again, at that two grams per day dosage of DHA.