Fish consumption, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer disease: a complex association - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Fish consumption, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer disease: a complex association

Majid Fotuhi et al. Nat Clin Pract Neurol. 2009 Mar.

Abstract

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids could have neuroprotective properties against dementia, which is becoming a major global public health issue. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to establish the association between eating fish (a source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids) or taking long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplements and the risk of cognitive decline or Alzheimer disease (AD). We identified eleven observational studies and four clinical trials. All three observational studies that used cognitive decline as an outcome reported significant benefits, whereas only four of eight observational studies that used incidence of AD or dementia as an outcome reported positive findings. None of four small clinical trials provided convincing evidence for the use of this approach in the prevention or treatment of any form of dementia. In summary, the existing data favor a role for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in slowing cognitive decline in elderly individuals without dementia, but not for the prevention or treatment of dementia (including AD). This apparent dichotomy might reflect differences in study designs with regard to participants, dosages, the ratio of long-chain omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, or the choice of outcome measurements. Large clinical trials of extended duration should help to provide definitive answers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

• Intakes of fish and polyunsaturated fatty acids and mild-to-severe cognitive impairment risks: a dose-response meta-analysis of 21 cohort studies.
  Zhang Y, Chen J, Qiu J, Li Y, Wang J, Jiao J. Zhang Y, et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Feb;103(2):330-40. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.124081. Epub 2015 Dec 30. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016. PMID: 26718417
• Diet and Alzheimer's disease risk factors or prevention: the current evidence.
  Solfrizzi V, Panza F, Frisardi V, Seripa D, Logroscino G, Imbimbo BP, Pilotto A. Solfrizzi V, et al. Expert Rev Neurother. 2011 May;11(5):677-708. doi: 10.1586/ern.11.56. Expert Rev Neurother. 2011. PMID: 21539488 Review.
• Omega-3 fatty acids' supplementation in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review.
  Canhada S, Castro K, Perry IS, Luft VC. Canhada S, et al. Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Oct;21(8):529-538. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2017.1321813. Epub 2017 May 3. Nutr Neurosci. 2018. PMID: 28466678
• Omega 3 fatty acids and cognitive health in older people.
  Dangour AD, Andreeva VA, Sydenham E, Uauy R. Dangour AD, et al. Br J Nutr. 2012 Jun;107 Suppl 2:S152-8. doi: 10.1017/S0007114512001547. Br J Nutr. 2012. PMID: 22591889 Review.
• A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids does not improve or protect cognitive performance in Alzheimer's transgenic mice.
  Arendash GW, Jensen MT, Salem N Jr, Hussein N, Cracchiolo J, Dickson A, Leighty R, Potter H. Arendash GW, et al. Neuroscience. 2007 Oct 26;149(2):286-302. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.08.018. Epub 2007 Aug 14. Neuroscience. 2007. PMID: 17904756

Cited by

• Omega-3 blood biomarkers relate to brain glucose uptake in individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease dementia.
  Lázaro I, Grau-Rivera O, Suárez-Calvet M, Fauria K, Minguillón C, Shekari M, Falcón C, García-Prat M, Huguet J, Molinuevo JL, Gispert JD, Sala-Vila A; ALFA study. Lázaro I, et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024 Jul 5;16(3):e12596. doi: 10.1002/dad2.12596. eCollection 2024 Jul-Sep. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024. PMID: 38974876 Free PMC article.
• Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial.
  Quinn JF, Raman R, Thomas RG, Yurko-Mauro K, Nelson EB, Van Dyck C, Galvin JE, Emond J, Jack CR Jr, Weiner M, Shinto L, Aisen PS. Quinn JF, et al. JAMA. 2010 Nov 3;304(17):1903-11. doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.1510. JAMA. 2010. PMID: 21045096 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
• Oxidative stability of marine phospholipids in the liposomal form and their applications.
  Lu FS, Nielsen NS, Timm-Heinrich M, Jacobsen C. Lu FS, et al. Lipids. 2011 Jan;46(1):3-23. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3496-y. Epub 2010 Nov 19. Lipids. 2011. PMID: 21088919 Review.
• Docosahexaenoic acid-derived neuroprotectin D1 induces neuronal survival via secretase- and PPARγ-mediated mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease models.
  Zhao Y, Calon F, Julien C, Winkler JW, Petasis NA, Lukiw WJ, Bazan NG. Zhao Y, et al. PLoS One. 2011 Jan 5;6(1):e15816. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015816. PLoS One. 2011. PMID: 21246057 Free PMC article.
• Delaying memory decline: different options and emerging solutions.
  Schneider F, Horowitz A, Lesch KP, Dandekar T. Schneider F, et al. Transl Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 21;10(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-0697-x. Transl Psychiatry. 2020. PMID: 32066684 Free PMC article. Review.

References

1. 1. JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2237-42 - PubMed
2. 1. Neurochem Res. 2002 Nov;27(11):1513-23 - PubMed
3. 1. Circulation. 2002 Nov 19;106(21):2747-57 - PubMed
4. 1. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD005379 - PubMed
5. 1. Brain Res. 2000 Apr 17;862(1-2):180-6 - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Ovid Technologies, Inc.

• Medical

  • MedlinePlus Health Information