In 2007, for the first time ever, there were more people over the state-pension age than there were children. And this trend is set to continue - over the next 20 years, the number of people over 85 is predicted to double.

But what quality of life will our older generation have? Medical advances and greater health awareness means that more people are "saved" from life threatening conditions, but there are a number of non-life threatening conditions that we don't have cures for. For example, Alzheimers disease.

Currently 1 in 6 people over 80 suffer from Alzheimer's. In total there are 417,000 people with the disease. With such a large increase in the older generation predicted, there could be 1 million people struggling with Alzheimer's by 2030. So is there anything you can do now to protect yourself from the disease in the future?

A recent study by Martek Biosciences asked that very question, and may have discovered an answer.

485 people with an average age of 70, healthy but with mild memory loss, took part in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre study. The study began with a Paired Associated Learning test taken by everyone. Then half the group took 900mg of the Omega 3 fatty acid DHA while the other half took a placebo for 6 months. The participants then sat the test again and the group taking the supplement showed significant improvement compared to the placebo group.

This suggests what nutritionists have been saying for a while: the brain is made up of essential fatty acids. When it gets hungry, feed it what it needs.

Another very interesting element of the experiment was that 402 people already suffering mild Alzheimer's also participated in the study, taking 2g of the DHA supplement. But after 6 months there was no significant improvement in their test scores.

This suggests that Omega 3 can act as a deterrent to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, but it isn't a treatment. So we should make sure we get plenty of these key nutrients from an early age. As essential fatty acids are excellent for so many other things (for example, on this study the group that took the DHA supplement also experienced a reduction in heart rate) everyone including children will benefit from a healthy regular intake.

But as a deterrent for Alzheimer's specifically, 1 in 14 people over 65 suffer from the disease, 15 years later the risk has more than doubled. Age is by far the biggest risk factor for the disease, so if you are approaching your 60's, 70's or 80's do what you can now to protect yourself as best as possible from this disease.

And take an Essential Fatty Acids supplement.