Higher DHA Intake May Lead to Less Amyloidosis, Improved Memory

Higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with less amyloid deposition in the brain and improved memory, according to a new study.

Previous studies have found that higher dietary intake of DHA was linked to better cognitive performance and that DHA may prevent amyloid deposition in the brain. However, less is known about the association between DHA levels, cerebral amyloidosis, and volumes of brain areas affected by Alzheimer disease.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Could Higher Omega-3s Preserve Brain Health in Old Age?
Chocolate Consumption May Improve Cognitive Function
________________________________________________________________________________________

To investigate this association, the researchers collected data from 61 participants aged 67 to 88 years without dementia in the Aging Brain Study, which was conducted from June 2008 to May 2013.

The researchers analyzed participants’ serum DHA levels, measures of amyloid deposition (via positron emission tomography scan with Pittsburgh compound B), brain volumes, and neuropsychological testing scores.

Analysis showed that serum DHA levels were 23% lower in participants with cerebral amyloidosis than in those without the condition. Patients with higher DHA levels had higher brain volume in several subregions affected by Alzheimer disease, including the left subiculum and left entorhinal cortex.
After adjusting for age, sex, and other variables, the researchers found that DHA levels were inversely correlated with brain amyloid load and were associated with nonverbal memory scores.

“In this study, serum DHA levels were associated with pathogenesis of cerebral amyloidosis and with preservation of entorhinal and hippocampal volumes,” the researchers concluded. “These findings suggest an important role for DHA metabolism in brain amyloid deposition during the preclinical or early symptomatic stages of Alzheimer disease.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Yassine HN, Feng Q, Azizkhanian I, et al. Association of serum docosahexaenoic acid with cerebral amyloidosis [published online August 8, 2016]. JAMA Neurol. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.1924.