Omega-3s increase connections between neurons: the monkey study

Omega-3 supplements: more connections between neurons thanks to fish oil

A diet rich in Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) promotes the development of a healthy brain. In fact, macaques consuming high amounts of it possess a cerebral cortex with many connections and an organization similar to that of the human brain, while those on a diet low in Omega-3 have a more limited neural network.

This was discovered by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University (USA). The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, confirms the role of Omega-3s in proper brain development.

Omega-3s influence the development of the nervous system

DHA is the main component of the cell membranes of neurons to which it gives the fluidity needed to grow, connect with other cells, and transmit nerve signals faster. The 'fatty acid, found primarily in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, plays a key role in the development of the brain, visual system, and the maintenance of their function. Numerous studies suggest that a reduced concentration of DHA in the brain during fetal life results in reduced neuronal development, neurocognitive deficits, and behavioral alterations. Research by one of the study's co-authors, Martha Neuringer of the Oregon National Primate Research Center, has demonstrated the importance of DHA in the visual development of infants.

DHA promotes brain connections

The team of researchers conducted the study on a group of 17- to 19-year-old macaques from the Oregon National Primate Research Center. Some animals were fed foods rich in DHA while others were fed a diet low in Omega-3. Using a magnetic resonance imaging method to visualize interactions between brain regions when a subject performs a task, the brain organization of the animals and the changes associated with 'DHA intake were observed. The results showed that macaques that had been on a diet rich in DHA had an organization of the cerebral cortex, that is, the outer layer of the hemispheres of the brain, similar to that of a healthy human. For example, connections and activity were evident between areas of the brain similar to those involved in attention and information processing in humans In contrast, animals that had been on a diet low in DHA showed less connectivity in the visual system and impaired distributed cortical networks.

A finding that suggests numerous other studies

The finding reveals similarities between the organization of the cerebral cortex of humans and macaques, in the context of an Omega-3-rich diet, and supports the hypothesis that these fatty acids are important for the development and maintenance of neuronal systems, including those essential for cognitive development. The next step will be to identify whether monkeys with deficits in certain connections have behaviors comparable to those of humans affected by neurological disorders, such as Attention Deficit Disorder and autism. Scientists would like to study macaques fed different diets from birth, so they can understand how a diet rich in Omega-3s may affect early and later stages of brain development.

Source: "David S. Grayson, Christopher D. Kroenke, Martha Neuringer, and Damien A. Fair. "Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulate Large-Scale Systems Organization in the Rhesus Macaque Brain." The Journal of Neuroscience, February 5, 2014, 34(6): 2065-2074; doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3038-13.2014