Dementia is a large and growing health concern facing older adults, with approximately 15 to 20 percent of people aged 65 years and older living with mild cognitive impairment. Omega-3 fatty acids have benefits for those with mild cognitive impairment and coronary artery disease, a risk factor for dementia because it restricts blood flow to the brain. Findings of a recent report demonstrate the effects of omega-3 supplementation on cognitive decline in cognitively healthy older adults with coronary artery disease.
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) protect the aging brain by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation and increasing neurogenesis. Dietary consumption of omega-3 rich foods such as fish is associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while low blood levels of DHA are associated with smaller brain volume, a hallmark of cognitive decline. To date, there have been few studies measuring the impact of long-term omega-3 supplementation on cognitive function in adults without cognitive impairment or dementia.
The researchers enrolled 285 adults (average age, 63 years) who had stable coronary artery disease and were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medication. They assigned half of the participants to consume an EPA and DHA supplement (approximately 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids total) for 30 months while the other half consumed no supplement. Participants completed a battery of cognitive tests at baseline, 12 months, and 30 months, measuring global cognition, language, verbal fluency, visual-motor coordination, psychomotor speed, and memory.
After 30 months of omega-3 supplementation, participants had significantly better scores for verbal fluency, language, and memory than participants who did not supplement. Participants who supplemented also performed significantly better on two measures of visual-motor coordination. These improvements were measurable at just 12 months of supplementation.
The investigators concluded that combined EPA and DHA supplementation improved cognition in cognitively healthy older adults with coronary artery disease. These results demonstrate the ability of omega-3 fatty acids to protect brain health even in those with coronary artery disease, a risk factor for dementia.
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