You may have read or heard about the recent study and news that Omega-3 supplements have no significant effect on reducing cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. Findings were published in the September 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

A meta-analysis pooled from 20 randomized studies including more than 68,000 patients concluded that supplementation did not reduce the risks of all-cause mortality, cardiac death, sudden death, myocardial infarction or stroke.  The authors opined that the findings do not justify the use of Omega-3s as a structured intervention in everyday clinical practice or guidelines supporting daily Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid administration.

Authors and clinicians suggest that even though supplements may not reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, there is evidence they help reduce triglyceride cholesterol levels. Clinicians also indicate it is important we maintain a plant-based diet with Omega-3 rich fatty fish as part of a heart-healthy Mediterranean-like dietary strategy that hold benefits most likely beyond individual supplements.

It is important to differentiate disease prevention from health promotion. Because something does not prevent a disease does not mean it is not healthy. Omega-3s in the form of food consumption remains health promoting. Even supplements continue to help with unhealthy cholesterol reduction. We should engage in health promoting behaviors including diet, exercise, and stress reduction even if such behaviors do not prevent disease.

Over 20 years of clinical practice has taught me that caregivers experience a full range of emotions in their new role. We really do not have a manual or guide on how “how to be a great caregiver” growing up so the role of caregiver is often learned as we go. This can be difficult and challenging for many of us.

One of the primary emotions experienced by most caregivers is a sense of guilt. Guilt probably stems from the feeling that “I should be doing more and I should be able to take care of mom or dad in my home.” The emotion is typically confronted by the reality that a caregiver may also have a full time job, several kids, a family, and no room at home to provide such care.

Simultaneously, and particularly in the case of parents, the caregiver realizes that the parent cared for him or her and deserves the same in return. These really represent the core issues and thoughts the breed guilt. The feeling of guilt is universal and quite normal. It reflects love and compassion for a family member. It can also cause the caregiver many sleepless nights, depression, anger, etc.

In my practice, I try to provide the caregiver a chance to talk about what he or she is experiencing. I always let the caregiver know how normal guilt is and that the most important decision for care of an older person is safety. So often, a parent may be in need of 24-7 supervision, increased structure, socialization opportunities, and clinical attention. Most children cannot meet these needs, particularly on a 24-7 basis.

Time is helpful to the caregiver guilt, as children will see that most settings provide excellent and compassionate care within a safe environment. It is important for the caregiver to find time for him or herself and to not let guilt drive their decisions such as how often to visit. I will make recommendations to caregivers to not visit so often when I believe the behavior is causing more problems.

A decision to place a loved one such as a parent into assisted living or long-term care is very difficult. All caregivers can know that guilt is a primary and normal emotion with such decisions. Safety needs to be the most important factor in the decision-making process and time will help to heal the feelings of guilt. Caregivers need to create their own time for respite and to monitor their emotional health throughout.

There was a conference held in Washington DC recently that dealt with prevention of dementia. This was an important event, as our society tends to approach health quite reactively. Indeed, the first Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia was held in mid April and lifestyle was highlighted as an important factor in both the etiology and potential protection against dementia.

As my work over the past decade or more has been focused on a proactive and comprehensive brain health lifestyle ® to build brain resiliency, it is easy to understand how pleased I am to see such conferences and discussion. I have been working to promote a comprehensive lifestyle approach that includes nutrition, socialization, mental stimulation, physical activity, and spirituality to build brain health across the lifespan (see www.paulnussbaum.com).

I was pleased to serve as guest editor of Generations, the official journal of the American Society on Aging (www.asaging.org) that published a special issue on the latest clinical research on brain health and lifestyle (Generations, 35, 2011). The information was then presented at the recent Annual Conference of the American Society of Aging-Brain Health Forum. Interestingly, the event was also held in Washington DC. Perhaps the one-two punch on brain health and lifestyle will generate some interest in the legislative world where it can help to prioritize a national proactive and lifelong effort for brain health.

A brain health lifestyle ® needs to begin in the womb and to be prioritized across the entire lifespan. Delaying or withstanding the effects of the neuropathological markers of the disease can have an enormous benefit for both quality of life and the economics of Alzheimer’s disease. There is nothing wrong with ongoing study for an intervention that will halt or cure the disease. However, it is simply foolish to ignore the robust literature on the relationship between lifestyle and brain resiliency. It is the resiliency of the human brain that is at present perhaps our best approach to confront and combat potential dementia.

Most important, the proactive brain health lifestyle ® (see Nussbaum-Save Your Brain at Amazon.com) needs to be started at the earliest of ages, prioritized in our lives, and understood from a deeply personal level.