Loong Spencer, Barnes Samuel, Gatto Nicole M, Chowdhury Shilpy, Lee Grace J
Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 2;13(9):1278. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091278.
The elderly population is growing at increased rates and is expected to double in size by 2050 in the United States and worldwide. The consumption of healthy foods and enriched diets have been associated with improved cognition and brain health. The key nutrients common to many healthy foods and diets are the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 FAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We explored whether omega-3 FA levels are associated with brain volume and cognition. Forty healthy, cognitively normal, Seventh-day Adventist older adults (mean age 76.3 years at MRI scan, 22 females) completed neurocognitive testing, a blood draw, and structural neuroimaging from 2016 to 2018. EPA and an overall omega-3 index were associated with individual measures of delayed recall (RAVLT-DR) and processing speed (Stroop Color) as well as entorhinal cortex thickness. EPA, DHA, and the omega-3 index were significantly correlated with the total white matter volume. The entorhinal cortex, frontal pole, and total white matter were associated with higher scores on delayed memory recall. This exploratory study found that among healthy, cognitively older adults, increased levels of omega-3 FAs are associated with better memory, processing speed, and structural brain measures.
老年人口正以更快的速度增长，预计到2050年，美国和全球的老年人口规模将翻一番。食用健康食品和营养丰富的饮食与认知能力和大脑健康的改善有关。许多健康食品和饮食中常见的关键营养素是omega-3多不饱和脂肪酸（omega-3 FA），如二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）。我们探讨了omega-3 FA水平是否与脑容量和认知能力相关。2016年至2018年期间，40名健康、认知正常的基督复临安息日会老年人（MRI扫描时的平均年龄为76.3岁，女性22名）完成了神经认知测试、血液检测和结构神经影像学检查。EPA和总体omega-3指数与延迟回忆（雷伊听觉词语学习测验-延迟回忆，RAVLT-DR）和处理速度（斯特鲁普颜色测验）的个体测量指标以及内嗅皮质厚度相关。EPA、DHA和omega-3指数与总白质体积显著相关。内嗅皮质、额极和总白质与延迟记忆回忆的较高分数相关。这项探索性研究发现，在健康、认知功能正常的老年人中，omega-3 FA水平的升高与更好的记忆力、处理速度和大脑结构测量指标相关。
