Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 713-725 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Mar 2016 |
Abstract
As the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins years before disease onset, searching for prevention strategies is of major medical and economic importance. Nutritional supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may exert beneficial effects on brain structure and function. However, experimental evidence in older adults without clinical dementia is inconsistent, possibly due to low sensitivity of previously employed test batteries for detecting subtle improvements in cognition in healthy individuals. Here we used LOCATO, recently described as a robust and sensitive tool for assessing object-location memory (OLM) in older adults, to evaluate the impact of LC-n3-FA supplementation on learning and memory formation. In a double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study, 44 (20 female) cognitively healthy individuals aged 50-75 years received either LC-n3-FA (2,200 mg/day, n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 26 weeks. Before and after intervention, memory performance in the OLM-task (primary) was tested. As secondary outcome parameters, performance in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), dietary habits, omega-3-index, and other blood-derived parameters were assessed. Omega-3 index increased significantly in the LC-n3-FA group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, recall of object locations was significantly better after LC-n3-FA supplementation compared with placebo. Performance in the AVLT was not significantly affected by LC-n3-FA. This double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study provides further experimental evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on memory functions in healthy older adults. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.
Keywords
- Aged, Apolipoproteins E/genetics, Auditory Perception, Blood Chemical Analysis, Cognitive Aging, Dietary Supplements/adverse effects, Double-Blind Method, Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Nootropic Agents/administration & dosage, Treatment Outcome, dietary prevention, fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, Cognitive aging
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Medicine(all)
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Psychology(all)
- Clinical Psychology
- Neuroscience(all)
- General Neuroscience
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Vol. 51, No. 3, 30.03.2016, p. 713-725.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Memory Functions in Healthy Older Adults
AU - Külzow, Nadine
AU - Witte, A Veronica
AU - Kerti, Lucia
AU - Grittner, Ulrike
AU - Schuchardt, Jan Philipp
AU - Hahn, Andreas
AU - Flöel, Agnes
PY - 2016/3/30
Y1 - 2016/3/30
N2 - As the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins years before disease onset, searching for prevention strategies is of major medical and economic importance. Nutritional supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may exert beneficial effects on brain structure and function. However, experimental evidence in older adults without clinical dementia is inconsistent, possibly due to low sensitivity of previously employed test batteries for detecting subtle improvements in cognition in healthy individuals. Here we used LOCATO, recently described as a robust and sensitive tool for assessing object-location memory (OLM) in older adults, to evaluate the impact of LC-n3-FA supplementation on learning and memory formation. In a double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study, 44 (20 female) cognitively healthy individuals aged 50-75 years received either LC-n3-FA (2,200 mg/day, n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 26 weeks. Before and after intervention, memory performance in the OLM-task (primary) was tested. As secondary outcome parameters, performance in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), dietary habits, omega-3-index, and other blood-derived parameters were assessed. Omega-3 index increased significantly in the LC-n3-FA group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, recall of object locations was significantly better after LC-n3-FA supplementation compared with placebo. Performance in the AVLT was not significantly affected by LC-n3-FA. This double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study provides further experimental evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on memory functions in healthy older adults. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.
AB - As the process of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begins years before disease onset, searching for prevention strategies is of major medical and economic importance. Nutritional supplementation with long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (LC-n3-FA) may exert beneficial effects on brain structure and function. However, experimental evidence in older adults without clinical dementia is inconsistent, possibly due to low sensitivity of previously employed test batteries for detecting subtle improvements in cognition in healthy individuals. Here we used LOCATO, recently described as a robust and sensitive tool for assessing object-location memory (OLM) in older adults, to evaluate the impact of LC-n3-FA supplementation on learning and memory formation. In a double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study, 44 (20 female) cognitively healthy individuals aged 50-75 years received either LC-n3-FA (2,200 mg/day, n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 26 weeks. Before and after intervention, memory performance in the OLM-task (primary) was tested. As secondary outcome parameters, performance in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), dietary habits, omega-3-index, and other blood-derived parameters were assessed. Omega-3 index increased significantly in the LC-n3-FA group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, recall of object locations was significantly better after LC-n3-FA supplementation compared with placebo. Performance in the AVLT was not significantly affected by LC-n3-FA. This double-blind placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study provides further experimental evidence that LC-n3-FA exert positive effects on memory functions in healthy older adults. Our findings suggest novel strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.
KW - Aged
KW - Apolipoproteins E/genetics
KW - Auditory Perception
KW - Blood Chemical Analysis
KW - Cognitive Aging
KW - Dietary Supplements/adverse effects
KW - Double-Blind Method
KW - Fatty Acids, Omega-3/administration & dosage
KW - Feeding Behavior
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Learning
KW - Male
KW - Memory
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Neuropsychological Tests
KW - Nootropic Agents/administration & dosage
KW - Treatment Outcome
KW - dietary prevention
KW - fish oil
KW - eicosapentaenoic acid
KW - docosahexaenoic acid
KW - Cognitive aging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84963749096&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/jad-150886
DO - 10.3233/jad-150886
M3 - Article
C2 - 26890759
VL - 51
SP - 713
EP - 725
JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
SN - 1387-2877
IS - 3
ER -