Taking DHA improves memory

DHA omega-3 supplements improve memory in healthy young men and women by 20 percent, new research finds. The greatest improvements occur in those who are genetically at much greater risk of developing Alzheimer's. Taking omega-3 DHA (docosahexanoic acid) supplements considerably improves working memory (i.e., short-term memory) in men and episodic memory in healthy young women. The effectiveness of omega 3 DHA supplements in enhancing memory faculties is, surprisingly, greater in individuals genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease. This is the finding of a study conducted by the University of New Zealand in collaboration with researchers from the Universities of West Anglia and Northumbria (UK) and published in the American Journal of clinical Nutrition .

Omega 3 DHA and memory in young people, the study

The researchers, led by Dr. Welma Stonehouse, involved a sample of 176 young adults -- ranging in age from 18 to 45 years -- all of whom were healthy and nonsmokers. The participants were randomly selected, and then divided into two groups according to the double-blind experimental mode , (i.e. neither the researchers nor the participants knew whether they were taking omega-3 DHA capsules or placebo). The first group took 1.16 g of omega-3 supplements. DHA daily for six months, the second a placebo. All previously habitually followed a diet low in omega-3 fatty acids. During the trial, the sample was subjected to a series of cognitive tests designed to test their mnemonic faculties.

The surprising result

Taking omega 3 DHA supplements significantly improved mnemonic performance. The study showed that omega 3 DHA acts differently on men and women. Men improved short-term memory performance-which enables them to perform complex cognitive tasks-by 20 percent, completing tasks 223ms faster than their peers taking the placebo. The women showed benefits especially in episodic memory, which refers to the conscious recall of personal facts belonging to the past and is a type of long-term memory. Good episodic memory is crucial for learning from one's mistakes, overcoming one's limitations and achieving new goals.

The importance of genes

The researchers wanted to see more clearly the role of genes, particularly the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype. ApoE is one of the most important genetic risk factors in developing Alzheimer's disease. Carriers of its allelic variant ApoE4 - that is, about 25 percent of the white population - face a risk many times higher than average. The working memory of ApoE4 carriers taking omega-3 DHA supplements improved similarly to the rest of the group, while ApoE4 carriers in the placebo group worsened, causing a significant difference between the groups. This result was completely unexpected. The conclusions of the trial allowed its coordinator to be able to state that: "For the first time, a study has shown that increasing omega-3 DHA intake enhances memory and response time in healthy young adults whose diets are low in omega-3 fatty acids, modulating the response according to sex. " This finding reinforces previous studies that had shown how omega-3 fatty acids protect the brain from prematureaging and potentially help prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Supplements designed to counter these types of diseases include Omegor Mind, a dietary supplement containing omega-3, and a standardized, patented extract of Bacopa monnieri - Bacomind® - with clinically proven efficacy, combined with omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, omega-6 GLA, zinc and B vitamins. In fact, Bacopa monnieri is a plant that has been used for thousands of years in the tradition of Ayurvedic medicine as a memory tonic. 

Source: W.Stonehouse, C.A. Conlon, J. Podd, S.R. Hill, A.M.Minihane, C. Haskell, D.Kennedy et al "DHA supplementation improved both memory and reaction times in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial" published on March 20 1013, doi: 10. 3945/ajcn. 112.053371, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition