Does fish oil keep your memory sharp as you get older?
Not in the trial linked here. In a 3-year trial of 1,525 people aged 70 and over with memory complaints, omega-3 capsules made no difference to how much their memory and thinking declined compared with placebo.
What the studies found
“In the modified intention-to-treat population (n=1525), there were no significant differences in 3-year cognitive decline between any of the three intervention groups and the placebo group.”
What wider reviews say
These reviews are not linked to the finding on our site. We read them on 7 November 2026 to check that the answer above fits the wider research.
“The available trials showed no benefit of omega-3 PUFA supplementation on cognitive function in cognitively healthy older people.”
The details
- What the trials used
- 800 mg DHA and 225 mg EPA a day for 3 years. These are the doses studied, not advice on what to take.
- Who was studied
- Adults aged 70 and over, living at home, with memory complaints, trouble with daily tasks or slow walking, and no dementia (France and Monaco).
- Worth knowing
- This is the only study linked to the finding so far, which is why the grade is low.
Before you try it
If you take any medicine or have a health condition, ask a pharmacist or doctor before adding a supplement. This page doesn’t link to any product.
How we checked this
This answer comes from one finding on our site, and that finding has been re-checked: each linked study was confirmed on PubMed and read against the finding’s grade, direction and study count. We then read every abstract ourselves on 7 November 2026 and wrote the answer from them, then checked it against recent reviews; the quotes above are copied word for word. If the finding changes, this answer is hidden until it is checked again. How we grade.