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Cognitive changes with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in non-demented older adults with low omega-3 index

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the changes in specific domains of cognitive function in older adults reporting subjective memory complaints with a low omega-3 index receiving omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation or placebo.

Design

This is a secondary exploratory analysis of the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT) using subjects randomized to the n-3 PUFA supplementation or placebo group.

Setting

French community dwellers aged 70 or over reporting subjective memory complaints, but free from clinical dementia.

Participants

A subgroup of MAPT subjects in the lowest quartile of omega-3 index distribution with baseline values ≤ 4.83 % (n = 183).

Intervention

The n-3 PUFA supplementation group consumed a daily dose of DHA (800 mg) and EPA (a maximum amount of 225 mg) for 3 years. The placebo group received identical capsules comprising liquid paraffin oil.

Measurements

Linear mixed-model repeated-measures analyses were used including baseline, 6, 12, 24 and 36-month follow-up data to assess between-group differences in the change in eight cognitive tests over 36 months.

Results

There was less decline on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) in the n-3 PUFA supplementation group compared to placebo (p = 0.009; between group mean difference over 36 months, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.6,4.0). No significant differences for any of the other cognitive tests were found, including other tests of executive functioning, although, numerically all results were in favour of the n-3 PUFA supplementation.

Conclusions

We found some evidence that n-3 PUFAs might be beneficial for the maintenance of executive functioning in older adults at risk of dementia with low omega-3 index, but this exploratory finding requires further confirmation. A larger specifically designed randomised controlled trial could be merited.

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Table 1
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Abbreviations

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

ApoE:

apolipoprotein E

Aβ:

β- amyloid

CDR:

clinical dementia rating

CDR-SB:

clinical dementia rating sum of boxes

COWAT:

Controlled Oral Word Association Test

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

DSST:

Digit Symbol Substitution Test

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

FCSRT:

Free and Cued Selective Reminding test

PUFAs:

polyunsaturated fatty acids

MAPT:

Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial

MCI:

mild cognitive impairment

MMSE:

Mini Mental State Examination

n-3:

omega 3

RCT:

randomised controlled trial

TMT:

Trail Making Test

WAIS-R:

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gérontopôle, Department of Geriatrics, CHU Toulouse, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France

    Claudie Hooper, P. de Souto Barreto, C. Cantet, M. Cesari & B. Vellas

  2. UMR1027, Université de Toulouse, UPS, INSERM, Toulouse, France

    P. de Souto Barreto, N. Coley, C. Cantet, M. Cesari, S. Andrieu & B. Vellas

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    N. Coley & S. Andrieu

Authors
  1. Claudie Hooper
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MAPT/DSA Study Group

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Correspondence to Claudie Hooper.

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Hooper, C., de Souto Barreto, P., Coley, N. et al. Cognitive changes with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in non-demented older adults with low omega-3 index. J Nutr Health Aging 21, 988–993 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5

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