The Connection Between DHA And Dementia

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES

Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids could be helpful at improving many different facets of health.

They have been shown to improve heart health, improve depression symptoms in the elderly, and even improve teen’s mental health status.

Now, breakthrough research published in the Journal Neurology, shows that omega-3’s, especially DHA, could improve brain volume and improve cognitive test scores in elderly adults free from dementia.

Let me explain…

DHA and Your Brain

Omega-3 fatty acids play a large role in brain development, chemical makeup, and fatty-acid content.

Gray matter, which is part of the brain and the central nervous system, acts like a supercomputer in your brain.

There are many neurons and other cells in gray matter which create information which is then delivered to the rest of your body.

Gray matter does not work without white matter which is the connection between grey matter and the cells of your body.

However, gray matter is full of Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically DHA.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential fats that your body can not make, needs to be part of a healthy diet.

Foods rich in Omega-3’s (vegetables (ALA), free-range beef, and wild fatty fish) could provide adequate amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids which, research shows, could protect your heart, eyes, and could even replenish low levels of DHA and EPA found in your blood cells and brain.

The Research

Researchers aimed to understand the role that omega-3 fatty acids play in the prevention of dementia.

They recruited 1,575 participants, of which 854 were women.

The average age of the participants was 67, and all were free from dementia.

They took into account, age, gender, education level, APOE €4, plasma homocysteine, daily exercise, BMI, and were free from any vascular condition which would leave them prone to the development of certain vascular disease processes.

The researchers found, that people with the lowest DHA levels in their red blood cells, showed lower total brain volume and had increases in white matter hyperintensity volumes.

White matter hyperintensity volume could be an indicator for underlying cerebral (brain) conditions that are associated with smaller blood vessel in your brain.

Increased white matter hyperintensity could potentially increase your risk for stroke development along with mental and cognitive decline.

The researchers noted that participants with lower levels of DHA and EPA in their red blood cells, showed lower cognitive test scores for visual memory, executive function and abstract thinking.

They concluded that lower levels of DHA and EPA in red blood cells could be associated with lower brain volumes, cognitive impairment, and increased risk for vascular-related dementia, even if they are currently free from dementia.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Your Brain Health

Omega-3 fatty acids, clinical studies show, could have tremendous benefits to improving many aspects of health, including heart health and mental health.

Now, the level of one of the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, could potentially have benefits for reducing your risk for dementia.

By increasing your omega-3 fatty acid levels, you could improve brain health, therefore potentially slowing the rate of aging found in your brain as you get older.

This has the potential to improve mental health and preserve cognitive function from the detrimental effects associated with aging and dementia.