Omega-3s protect brain health and size
Brain: Omega-3s help brain health and size
High levels of Omega 3 appear to slow brain volume loss during aging. Postmenopausal women with high concentrations of the fatty acids DPA (docosapentaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) in fact possess larger brains compared to others of the same age. A condition that is equivalent to preserving brain health for one or two years.
This is the result of a study conducted by researchers at the University of South Dakota (USA), and published in the journal Neurology, during which they investigated the effect of Omega-3s on brain volume reduction, a phenomenon that occurs in the normal aging process and in Alzheimer's patients
Omega-3s and their effect on the brain
EPA and DHA are key components of cell membranes to which they impart the fluidity necessary for processes such as movement, division, growth and communication. In the membranes of neurons the most represented Omega-3 is DHA; an adult brain contains as much as 20 grams.It is essential for growth and maintenance of nerve tissue integrity and consequently for neuronal excitability and synaptic function. In red blood cells, the total EPA and DHA in the membrane, expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids, is called the Omega-3 Index. It is a useful indicator of the amount of EPA and DHA in the blood.
Omega-3 Index influences brain size
A total of 1,111 postmenopausal women took part in the study, for whom the concentration in red blood cells of EPA and DHA was analyzed. After 8 years, when the average age of the women was 78 years, their brain volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. This analysis showed that the subjects with higher concentrations of EPA and DHA, also had higher brain volume.
For example, women with an Omega-3 index of 7.5 percent showed compared to those with an index of 3.4 percent, 0.7 percent greater brain volume In addition, those who had higher amounts of DHA and EPA also showed 2.7 percent greater volume in the hippocampus, the area of the brain devoted to memory and the area that first begins to atrophy and shrink during Alzheimer's disease.
EPA and DHA deficiency may promote hippocampal atrophy
According to researchers, the correlation between high Omega-3 index and increased brain and hippocampal volume is due to the protective action that EPA and DHA exert on nerve cells. Omega-3s limiting brain volume loss would slow neuronal aging by one to two years. As the study authors suggest, brain-protective Omega-3 levels can be achieved through diet and by taking specific supplements.
The scientists' hypothesis is that a low Omega-3 index in fact may increase the risk of hippocampal atrophy, while the normal aging process would cause generalized brain atrophy. Further studies are therefore planned to understand whether maintaining a high EPA and DHA ratio may slow the rate of atrophy of only the hippocampus or the whole brain.
Source: James V. Pottala, Kristine Yaffe, Jennifer G. Robinson, MPH, Mark A. Espeland, Robert, Wallace, and William S. Harris, "Higher RBC EPA + DHA corresponds with larger total brain and hippocampal volumes," Neurology , 2014 Jan 22
