Miley Cyrus on Fish and Brain Function: A Fact-Check

Miley Cyrus says she left veganism and added fish and omega-3s because her brain 'wasn't functioning properly.' Omega-3s do matter for the brain, but controlled trials show supplements do not sharpen cognition in healthy people, and a few fish meals cannot rapidly change brain omega-3 levels. Any real gap a plant-based eater faces, including EPA/DHA, iron, or B12, is fixable without eating fish. The underlying nutrition concern is legitimate; the specific brain-fog claim is not well supported.

Miley Cyrus said

“Cyrus says she left veganism and reintroduced fish and omega-3s because a plant-only diet had left her brain not functioning properly.”

The science says

Weak and overstated: there is little evidence that a few fish meals quickly sharpen a healthy young brain, though plant-based eaters do need a reliable EPA/DHA source.

Science Score

Rests on RCTs conducted in older adults with mixed results and a population mismatch to a healthy young woman; no trial supports rapid cognitive gains from adding fish.

The verdict

The omega gap is real, but fish is the fix she reached for, not the fix the evidence requires.

The claimWhat Miley actually said

On the Joe Rogan Experience, Cyrus explained she had been vegan for years but reintroduced fish and omegas, saying her brain 'wasn't functioning properly' and that she now feels sharper. She stressed she still cares for animals and framed the change as a personal health decision.

Sources

Why it mattersWhy this matters for longevity

Diet-linked 'brain fog' feels real, but the usual culprits are B12, iron, or omega-3 gaps, not plant-based eating itself.

It flags a genuine nutrition issue for vegans (EPA/DHA), which is fixable without eating animals.

The evidenceWhat the science says

DHA is genuinely important for the brain, and one trial found 900 mg per day of DHA modestly improved memory in older adults with age-related cognitive decline.

But controlled trials show omega-3 supplements do not improve cognition in healthy people, a few fish meals cannot rapidly change brain omega-3 levels, and any real gap in a vegan is fixable with algae-based DHA, iron, or B12 rather than abandoning the diet.

TakeawayThe honest takeaway

The practical lesson

If you eat plant-based, cover EPA/DHA with algae oil and check B12 and iron rather than assuming you must eat fish.

RelatedRelated habits

Algae-Oil Omega SupplementsFatty Fish Twice A WeekB12 SupplementationBalanced Plant-Based Eating

Each of these is a habit you can build on its own. Explore them through the Topics index.

SupplementsThe supplement angle: Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)

Support a habit, do not replace one

Algae-based omega-3 lets plant-based eaters get EPA and DHA without fish; that said, omega-3 supplements have not been shown to sharpen cognition in healthy young adults, so treat them as insurance against a gap, not a brain booster.

Supplements can support good habits. They do not replace sleep, movement, nutrition, or medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting anything new.

This is educational commentary, not medical advice, and does not imply that Miley Cyrus endorses, is affiliated with, or uses Winning Longevity or any product. We critique the claim and the evidence, not the person. Any direct quote is a placeholder until sourced. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider before changing your routine. See our health disclaimer.

Men's Daily 7 Essentials

Whatever Miley does, the boring basics still matter most. One simple daily pack covers the foundational vitamins, minerals, and nutrients a careful diet tends to miss, so the foundation under the habit is handled.

This is our recommendation, not an endorsement by Miley Cyrus. Sold by 2ndSprings; we may earn a commission. See our affiliate disclosure.