Researchers at the Fisheries Research Institute under the Council of Agriculture have been able to extract PL-DHA (phospholipid docosahexaenoic acid), a memory enhancing substance, from the skin of squid, the official explained.

According to the official, PL-DHA is better than TG-DHA, another form of docosahexaenoic acid that is commonly found in deep-sea fish oil, in inhibiting degradation of the intellect because it can cross the blood brain barrier and be absorbed directly into the brain.

The researchers have also discovered that the PL DHA squid extract is effective in reviving neural cells and enhancing the content of three oxidation-resistant enzymes -- GSH, CAT and SOD -- as well as moderating free radical-induced oxidative damage to neural cells, thus slowing down the accumulation of plaque and tangles in brain cells.

Quoting medical reports, the official said Alzheimer's and other senile dementia diseases are associated with the accumulation of plaque and tangles in brain. At present, the official went on, more than 24 million people suffer from senile dementia, with the rate of new cases growing at 4.6 million every year.

"This means that one person in the world falls victim to Alzheimer's every six minutes," the official said.

Taiwan boasts abundant squid catches, with annual output reaching between 150,000 tons and 200,000 tons, the official continued, adding that by-products from squid processing accounts for 35 percent of the total catch, with squid skins making up about 15 percent of the by-products. As squid skins are tough and unpalatable, they are usually processed into powder that is used as an additive to animal and livestock feed.

Following the discovery of PL-DHA in squid skins, the official said, the Fisheries Research Institute will step up the development of squid skin-based health products to enhance its market value.