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HIgh dietary and plasma levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid are associated with decreased dementia risk: the rancho bernardo study

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

This study examined the association of plasma DHA, dietary DHA, and fish intake with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in older adults.

Design

Case-cohort study.

Setting

Clinic visit in 1991–93.

Participants

266 community dwelling men and women aged 67–100 years (mean=80.2).

Measurements

Participants had neurological and neuropsychological evaluations for dementia in 1991–93. Plasma DHA was measured in blood samples obtained at that visit. Dietary intakes of DHA and fish were obtained from an earlier (1988–91) visit. Three DHA exposure variables were used in separate analyses; plasma DHA, dietary DHA, and consumption of cold-water fish. All-cause dementia included AD and other types of possible or probable dementia.

Results

Among these 266 participants, 42 had dementia and 30 had possible or probable AD. Plasma DHA in the highest tertile was associated with a 65% reduced odds of allcause dementia (95% CI: 0.17, 0.92) and a 60% reduced odds of AD (95% CI: 0.15, 1.10). Dietary DHA in the highest tertile was associated with a 73% reduced odds of all-cause dementia (95% CI: 0.09, 0.79) and a 72% reduced odds of AD (95% CI: 0.09, 0.93). Fish intake had similar, though not significant, reduced odds of dementia (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.20, 1.32) and AD (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.20, 1.48).

Conclusions

Plasma and dietary DHA appear to protect against dementia. Increasing DHA intake from marine sources may be recommended for reducing dementia risk.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor

    Present address: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0607, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0607, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    L. B. Lopez, Donna Kritz-Silverstein & Elizabeth Barrett-Connor

  2. Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    L. B. Lopez

  3. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, 0631-C, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0631-C, USA

    Donna Kritz-Silverstein

Authors
  1. L. B. Lopez
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  2. Donna Kritz-Silverstein
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  3. Elizabeth Barrett-Connor
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Correspondence to Donna Kritz-Silverstein.

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Lopez, L.B., Kritz-Silverstein, D. & Barrett-Connor, E. HIgh dietary and plasma levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid are associated with decreased dementia risk: the rancho bernardo study. J Nutr Health Aging 15, 25–31 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0009-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-011-0009-5

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