The team will examine mice that have been specially bred to develop Alzheimer's disease, and will study whether omega-3 fatty acids in the mice diet has any beneficial effects on brain proteins. Professor Harwood speculates that the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3 oils may alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
WELSH scientists are to investigate the power fish have in slowing the devastating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
They will aim to discover whether eating fatty acids found in dishes such as salmon and sardines can help postpone the start - and hold back the symptoms - of a dementia which affects hundreds of people, particularly the elderly, across Wales.
Previous studies have suggested a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, can reduce the risk of the onset of Alzheimer's disease, although this is not yet proven.
Now Professor John Harwood, leading the Cardiff University research, will investigate whether oily fish, including herring and mackerel, can actually help halt or slow Alzheimer's progression.
The project, announced today, will be funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
The team will follow mice that have been bred to develop Alzheimer's.
They will study whether omega-3 fatty acids in the mice's diet can have a beneficial effect on proteins in the brain.
The scientists will see if this dietary change has any effect on the behaviour and symptoms of the mice.
The anti-inflammatory benefits of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fats in fish, already used to treat conditions such as arthritis, will be assessed.
He added, "Inflammation appears to play a leading role in the onset and the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
We are using a strain of mice who suffer from Alzheimer's.
We are using these animals to find out how it is that the fatty fish could alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Carolyn Morris, from Castleton, near Cardiff, cares for her mother Mary Miller, 88, who has Alzheimer's.
"As a family at first we didn't realise this was going on and it was only when my father died that I realised something was seriously amiss with my mother.