A recently published study investigated the role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cognitive ability of healthy middle-aged subjects. Previous research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids are important in both brain development and cognitive function in the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 6 to 10 percent of individuals aged 65 years or older have dementia resulting in cognitive impairment including memory loss, difficulty in understanding or using words, inability to carry out motor activities despite adequate motor function and difficulty identifying or recognizing objects.
In this new study, subjects included 280 adults between 35 and 54 years of age without major neuropsychiatric disorders and not currently taking fish oil supplements. The researchers measured levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenonic acid (DHA) in serum phospholipids of the subjects to determine omega-3 fatty acid levels. The subjects were then administered neuropsychological tests that evaluated cognitive ability such as nonverbal reasoning, mental flexibility, vocabulary and working memory.
The results showed that higher DHA levels in the serum phospholipids was related to better performance on tests of nonverbal reasoning and mental flexibility, working memory and vocabulary. The association was generally linear, which means as DHA levels increased, cognitive performance also increased proportionately.
The researchers stated, “These findings suggest that DHA is related to brain health throughout the lifespan and may have implications for clinical trials of neuropsychiatric disorders.”
Reference:
Muldoon MF, Ryan CM, Sheu L, Yao JK, Conklin SM, Manuck SB. Serum Phospholipid Docosahexaenonic Acid Is Associated with Cognitive Functioning during Middle Adulthood. J Nutr. 2010 Feb 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.