Mild cognitive decline in the elderly: omega-3 supplements improve memory and comprehension ability
Mild cognitive decline in the elderly: omega-3s improve memory and intelligence
In the elderly with mild cognitive decline, daily supplementation with omega-3s promotes certain brain functions, particularly memory and speed of comprehension. The benèfici, observable with 720 mg EPA and 480 mg DHA daily, are due to the different mechanisms of action of the two fatty acids, such as the ability to improve connections between neurons, transmission of nerve signals, and anti-inflammatory properties.
These are the findings of a study conducted by researchers at Zhengzhou University (China) and published in the journal Nutrients.
What is mild cognitive decline?
Cognitive impairment is a very common condition among the elderly and is particularly prevalent in Western countries, partly due to the increase in life expectancy. Mild cognitive decline, also known by the acronym MCI, from the English mild cognitive impairment, is a neurological condition characterized by a mild decline in brain function without impairment in the performance of normal daily activities. This condition is an intermediate stage between normal aging and true dementia; moreover, a person with MCI has a 10 times higher risk of developing dementia than normal individuals. Blocking mild cognitive impairment could, therefore, become an important step in preventing dementia. No effective drug treatment has been identified to date, but omega-3 EPA and DHA could play a protective role against age-related cognitive decline. Clinical studies in the healthy elderly and those with MCI or Alzheimer's disease suggest that people with cognitive decline are more likely to respond to the effect of omega-3s. These fatty acids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to reduce the production of certain arachidonic acid-derived substances with pro-inflammatory, platelet aggregating, vasoconstrictive, and hypertensive functions.
EPA and DHA supplements improve several cognitive functions in the elderly
According to the results of the Chinese study, daily supplementation with EPA and DHA may have positive effects in the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and play a preventive role against Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, using special tests for estimating cognitive ability, the researchers found that MCI patients who had received omega-3 supplements showed improvements in speed of perception, spatial efficiency, and working memory, compared with those who had not taken the supplementation, while they did not test benèficially for arithmetic efficiency or recognitive memory. In addition, the scientists noted that men and women responded differently to omega-3 treatment; male patients showed significant improvements especially in perceptual speed, spatial efficiency, and working memory, compared with women who seemed to have greater positive effects for perceptual speed and spatial efficiency. Commenting independently on the study results, Harry Rice, vice president of the Organization for EPA and DHA (Goed), expressed optimism about the research findings, confirming that delaying cognitive decline through omega-3s is a reasonable and desirable goal, especially considering that people with MCI have a high risk of developing dementia. Still according to Rice, however, noting the small sample size involved in this study and some different results obtained previously, it is definitely necessary, as confirmed by the research authors themselves, to conduct further studies to confirm the effect of omega-3s in preventing dementia. A future field of research will probably be directed toward studying the gene for Apolipoprotein-ε4, which has been identified as an important genetic risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
Research details
The researchers recruited several Chinese residents with mild cognitive decline, with an average age of 71 years. Eighty-six of them, those deemed suitable for the study, were randomly given either a daily treatment of supplements containing 720 milligrams of EPA and 480 milligrams of DHA 3 (With an EPA: DHA ratio of 3: 2) or an olive oil-based placebo, for six months. It should be remembered that both the European Food Safety and Food Authority (EFSA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommend between 0.25 grams and 2 grams per day for omega-3 for the elderly. Each patient was given blood tests both before and after omega-3 treatment, as well as specific baseline tests to determine different cognitive abilities. After the six-month intervention, the concentrations of DHA and EPA in peripheral blood collected in the subjects who had followed supplementation were significantly higher than those in the placebo group, while no difference was found for the other polyunsaturated fatty acids. Compared with the results obtained in the pre-intervention phase, the overall test scores in the two groups had improved in both after treatment. However, the group of patients who had consumed omega-3 had statistically significant improvement compared with the placebo group.
Mechanisms of action of omega-3s
Several studies have shown that EPA and DHA exert anti-inflammatory activities, and their positive effects are commonly attributed to this property. A large number of scientific works have proven that treatment with EPA and DHA can reduce certain molecules of inflammation, such as cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 ) and TNF-α in the blood. Several mechanisms could explain the potential positive effect of omega-3 towards in cognitive abilities. Indeed, EPA and DHA fatty acids constitute more than 30 percent of the phospholipids in cell membranes, and thus strongly influence structure, fluidity, and signal transduction in neuronal cells. In addition, EPA and DHA modulate certain genes that facilitate synaptic plasticity, that is, the ability of the nervous system to modify interactions between neurons. These fatty acids also influence the metabolism of B vitamins and homocysteine and activate energy-generating mechanisms involving sugars and lipids. Finally, omega-3s may protect cognitive function by modulating the immune response to Beta-amyloid protein, a major cause of Alzheimer's disease.
EPA and DHA to prevent dementia?
According to the researchers who directed the study, the results suggest that supplementation with omega-3s may have benefits in elderly individuals with mild dementia. Should these findings be confirmed by larger studies that can further explore the mechanisms of action and effective dosages, EPA and DHA could be a valuable early intervention for dementia prevention.
What omega-3 supplements to improve memory in later life?
OMEGOR Mind is a dietary supplement useful as a tonic for memory and cognitive function, especially for those over 55. Two capsules per day of Omegor Mind provide 326 mg of omega-3 and 225 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract, a plant used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine as a memory tonic, as well as several vitamins and minerals.
Source: Y. Bo et al. (2017). "The n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation Improved the Cognitive Function in the Chinese Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Doub le-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial" Nutrients Volume 9, Number 1, Pages 54.
