Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults

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OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)3059-3068
Seitenumfang10
FachzeitschriftCerebral Cortex
Jahrgang24
Ausgabenummer11
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Nov. 2014

Abstract

Higher intake of seafish or oil rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may be beneficial for the aging brain. We tested in a prospective interventional design whether high levels of supplementary LC-n3-FA would improve cognition, and addressed potential mechanisms underlying the effects. Sixty-five healthy subjects (50-75 years, 30 females) successfully completed 26 weeks of either fish oil (2.2 g/day LC-n3-FA) or placebo intake. Before and after the intervention period, cognitive performance, structural neuroimaging, vascular markers, and blood parameters were assayed. We found a significant increase in executive functions after LC-n3-FA compared with placebo (P = 0.023). In parallel, LC-n3-FA exerted beneficial effects on white matter microstructural integrity and gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, parietal, and limbic areas primarily of the left hemisphere, and on carotid intima media thickness and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements in executive functions correlated positively with changes in omega-3-index and peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and negatively with changes in peripheral fasting insulin. This double-blind randomized interventional study provides first-time evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on brain functions in healthy older adults, and elucidates underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.

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Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. / Witte, A Veronica; Kerti, Lucia; Hermannstädter, Henrike M et al.
in: Cerebral Cortex, Jahrgang 24, Nr. 11, 11.2014, S. 3059-3068.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Witte, AV, Kerti, L, Hermannstädter, HM, Fiebach, JB, Schreiber, SJ, Schuchardt, JP, Hahn, A & Flöel, A 2014, 'Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults', Cerebral Cortex, Jg. 24, Nr. 11, S. 3059-3068. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht163
Witte, A. V., Kerti, L., Hermannstädter, H. M., Fiebach, J. B., Schreiber, S. J., Schuchardt, J. P., Hahn, A., & Flöel, A. (2014). Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. Cerebral Cortex, 24(11), 3059-3068. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht163
Witte AV, Kerti L, Hermannstädter HM, Fiebach JB, Schreiber SJ, Schuchardt JP et al. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. Cerebral Cortex. 2014 Nov;24(11):3059-3068. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht163
Witte, A Veronica ; Kerti, Lucia ; Hermannstädter, Henrike M et al. / Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids improve brain function and structure in older adults. in: Cerebral Cortex. 2014 ; Jahrgang 24, Nr. 11. S. 3059-3068.
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abstract = "Higher intake of seafish or oil rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may be beneficial for the aging brain. We tested in a prospective interventional design whether high levels of supplementary LC-n3-FA would improve cognition, and addressed potential mechanisms underlying the effects. Sixty-five healthy subjects (50-75 years, 30 females) successfully completed 26 weeks of either fish oil (2.2 g/day LC-n3-FA) or placebo intake. Before and after the intervention period, cognitive performance, structural neuroimaging, vascular markers, and blood parameters were assayed. We found a significant increase in executive functions after LC-n3-FA compared with placebo (P = 0.023). In parallel, LC-n3-FA exerted beneficial effects on white matter microstructural integrity and gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, parietal, and limbic areas primarily of the left hemisphere, and on carotid intima media thickness and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements in executive functions correlated positively with changes in omega-3-index and peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and negatively with changes in peripheral fasting insulin. This double-blind randomized interventional study provides first-time evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on brain functions in healthy older adults, and elucidates underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age. ",
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AU - Witte, A Veronica

AU - Kerti, Lucia

AU - Hermannstädter, Henrike M

AU - Fiebach, Jochen B

AU - Schreiber, Stephan J

AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp

AU - Hahn, Andreas

AU - Flöel, Agnes

N1 - Funding information: This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche For-schungsgemeinschaft (Fl 379-8/1, Fl 379-10/1; and DFG-Exc 257), the Else-Kröner Fresenius Stiftung (2009-141; 2011-119), and the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (FKZ 0315673A, 01EO0801, 01 GY 1144).

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N2 - Higher intake of seafish or oil rich in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may be beneficial for the aging brain. We tested in a prospective interventional design whether high levels of supplementary LC-n3-FA would improve cognition, and addressed potential mechanisms underlying the effects. Sixty-five healthy subjects (50-75 years, 30 females) successfully completed 26 weeks of either fish oil (2.2 g/day LC-n3-FA) or placebo intake. Before and after the intervention period, cognitive performance, structural neuroimaging, vascular markers, and blood parameters were assayed. We found a significant increase in executive functions after LC-n3-FA compared with placebo (P = 0.023). In parallel, LC-n3-FA exerted beneficial effects on white matter microstructural integrity and gray matter volume in frontal, temporal, parietal, and limbic areas primarily of the left hemisphere, and on carotid intima media thickness and diastolic blood pressure. Improvements in executive functions correlated positively with changes in omega-3-index and peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and negatively with changes in peripheral fasting insulin. This double-blind randomized interventional study provides first-time evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on brain functions in healthy older adults, and elucidates underlying mechanisms. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.

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