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Fatty acid analysis of blood plasma of patients with alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia, and cognitive impairment

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Lipids

Abstract

Fatty acid differences, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) have been shown in the brains of Alzheimer's patients (AD) as compared with normal age-matched individuals. Furthermore, low serum DHA is a significant risk factor for the development of AD. The relative concentration of DHA and other fatty acids, however, in the plasma of AD patients compared with patients with other kinds of dementias (other dementias; OD), patients who are cognitively impaired but nondemented (CIND), or normal patients is not known. In this study we analyzed the total phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) fractions of plasma from patients diagnosed with AD, OD, or CIND and compared them with a group of elderly control subjects with normal cognitive functioning. Plasma phospholipid and PC levels of 20:5n-3, DHA, total n-3 fatty acids, and the n-3/n-6 ratio were lower in the AD, OD, and CIND groups. Plasma phospholipid 24:0 was lower in the AD, OD, and CIND groups as compared with the group of control patients, and total n-6 fatty acid levels were higher in the AD and CIND groups only. In the plasma PE fraction, levels of 20:5n-3, DHA, and the total n-3 fatty acid levels were significantly lower in the AD, OD, and CIND groups. DHA levels were lower in the lysoPC fraction of CIND individuals only. There were no other differences in the fatty acid compositions of the different phospholipid fractions. Therefore, in AD, OD, and CIND individuals, low levels of n-3 fatty acids in the plasma may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment and/or dementia. Interestingly, a decreased level of plasma DHA was not limited to the AD patients but appears to be common in cognitive impairment with aging.

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Abbreviations

AA:

arachidonic acid

AD:

Alzheimer's Disease

ANCOVA:

analysis of covariance

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

CIND:

cognitively impaired nondemented

CNS:

central nervous system

CT:

computer tomography

DHA:

docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

lyso PC:

lysophosphatidylcholine

MUFA:

monounsaturated fatty acid

N:

normal

OD:

other dementias

PC:

phosphatidylcholine

PE:

phosphatidylethanolamine

PL:

phospholipid

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

SAT:

saturated fatty acid

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Julie A. Conquer, Julie Zecevic & William J. Bettger

  2. Department of Human Biology and Nutrition Sciences, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Julie A. Conquer, Julie Zecevic & William J. Bettger

  3. Geriatric Research, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Julie A. Conquer, Mary C. Tierney, Julie Zecevic, William J. Bettger & Rory H. Fisher

  4. Geriatric Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre University of Toronto, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Mary C. Tierney & Rory H. Fisher

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  1. Julie A. Conquer
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  2. Mary C. Tierney
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Correspondence to Julie A. Conquer.

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Conquer, J.A., Tierney, M.C., Zecevic, J. et al. Fatty acid analysis of blood plasma of patients with alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia, and cognitive impairment. Lipids 35, 1305–1312 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-0646-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-0646-3

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