Gustafson Kathleen M, Colombo John, Carlson Susan E
Hoglund Brain Imaging Center, Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008 Sep-Nov;79(3-5):135-40. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2008.09.014. Epub 2008 Oct 18.
Docosahexaenoic acid is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that is found in large quantity in the brain and which has repeatedly been observed to be related in positive ways to both cognitive function and cardiovascular health. The mechanisms through which docosahexaenoic acid affects cognition are not well understood, but in this article, we propose a hypothesis that integrates the positive effects of docosahexaenoic acid in the cognitive and cardiovascular realms through the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is known to regulate vital functions such as heart rate and respiration, and has also been linked to basic cognitive components related to arousal and attention. We review the literature from this perspective, and delineate the predictions generated by the hypothesis. In addition, we provide new data showing a link between docosahexaenoic acid and fetal heart rate that is consistent with the hypothesis.
二十二碳六烯酸是一种长链多不饱和脂肪酸，大量存在于大脑中，并且人们反复观察到它在认知功能和心血管健康方面都有着积极的关联。二十二碳六烯酸影响认知的机制尚未完全明确，但在本文中，我们提出了一个假设，该假设通过自主神经系统整合了二十二碳六烯酸在认知和心血管领域的积极作用。众所周知，自主神经系统调节诸如心率和呼吸等重要功能，并且还与与唤醒和注意力相关的基本认知成分有关。我们从这个角度回顾了文献，并阐述了该假设所产生的预测。此外，我们提供了新的数据，表明二十二碳六烯酸与胎儿心率之间的联系与该假设一致。
