Omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive function in women

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) could play an important role in maintaining cognitive function in aging individuals. The omega-3 FA docosahexaenoic acid is a major constituent of neuronal membranes and, along with the other long-chain omega-3 FAs from fish such as eicosapentaentoic acid, has been shown to have a wide variety of beneficial effects on neuronal functioning, inflammation, oxidation and cell death, as well as on the development of the characteristic pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Omega-3 FAs may prevent vascular dementia via salutary effects on lipids, inflammation, thrombosis and vascular function. Epidemiologic studies have generally supported a protective association between fish and omega-3 FA levels and cognitive decline. Some of the small, short-term, randomized trials of docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaentoic acid supplementation have found positive effects on some aspects of cognition in older adults who were cognitively intact or had mild cognitive impairment, although little effect was found in participants with Alzheimer's disease. Large, long-term trials in this area are needed.

Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This project was supported (or supported in part) by an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics cooperative agreement #5 U18 HSO16094. Jennifer G Robinson has received in the past year: grants from Abbott, Aegerion, Astra-Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daiichi-Sankyo, GlaxoSmith Kline, Hoffman La Roche, Merck and Merck Schering-Plough. William Harris is a consultant to Monsanto Co. and GlaxoSmithKline; both companies have interests in omega-3 fatty acids. He is also the founder and chief scientific advisor to Omega Quant Analytics, a company that offers blood omega-3 testing. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1. Overview of essential fatty acid metabolism from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality omega-3 fatty acid review

*Dietary intake levels are based on approximate current levels in North American diets. AA: Arachidonic acid; ALA: α-linolenic acid; DHA: Docosahexaenoic acid; EPA: Eicosapentaenoic acid; PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acid. Taken from [27].