Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults.
Higher intake of seafish or oil rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may be beneficial for the aging brain. We tested in a prospective interventional design whether high levels of supplementary LC-n3-FA would improve cognition, and addressed potential mechanisms underlying the effects. Sixty-five healthy subjects (50-75 years, 30 females) successfully completed 26 weeks of either fish oil (2.2 g/day LC-n3-FA) or placebo intake. Before and after the intervention period, cognitive performance, structural neuroimaging, vascular markers, and blood parameters were assayed. We found a significant increase in executive functions after LC-n3-FA compared with placebo (P = 0.023). In parallel, LC-n3-FA exerted beneficial effects on white matter microstructural integrity and gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, parietal, and limbic areas primarily of the left hemisphere, and on carotid intima media thickness and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements in executive functions correlated positively with changes in omega-3-index and peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and negatively with changes in peripheral fasting insulin. This double-blind randomized interventional study provides first-time evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on brain functions in healthy older adults, and elucidates underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.
['Witte|A Veronica|AV|', 'Kerti|Lucia|L|', 'Hermannstädter|Henrike M|HM|', 'Fiebach|Jochen B|JB|', 'Schreiber|Stephan J|SJ|', 'Schuchardt|Jan Philipp|JP|', 'Hahn|Andreas|A|', 'Flöel|Agnes|A|']
D000368:Aged D000375:Aging D000704:Analysis of Variance D000886:Anthropometry D001921:Brain D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness D002784:Cholesterol D003071:Cognition D004311:Double-Blind Method D005215:Fasting D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 D005260:Female D066128:Gray Matter D006801:Humans D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted D008074:Lipoproteins D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009483:Neuropsychological Tests D011446:Prospective Studies D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales D066127:White Matter
executive functions intima media thickness cognitive aging diffusion tensor imaging voxel-based morphometry