Better cognition associated with higher Omega-3 index – Sept 2023

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cognition, and Brain Volume in Older Adults

Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 1278. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/brainsci13091278
Spencer Loong 1, Samuel Barnes 2, Nicole M. Gatto 3 , Shilpy Chowdhury 2 and Grace J. Lee 1'*

• Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; sloong at students.llu.edu
• Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; sabarnes at llu.edu (S.B.)
• School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; ngatto at llu.edu
  • Correspondence: gracelee at llu.edu

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.
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VitaminDWiki - 52 studies in both categories Cognitive and Omega-3

This list is automatically updated

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VitaminDWiki – Cognitive category contains:

Very brief summary of Cognitive decline
Treatment : Vitamin D intervention slows or stops progression
Prevention : Many observational studies - perhaps Vitamin D prevents
Omega-3 both prevents and treats cognition
Wonder the benefits if both Vitamin D AND Omega-3 were to be used
Dementia page - 50 items

389 items in Cognition category

see also Overview Alzheimer's-Cognition and Vitamin D
Overview Parkinson's and Vitamin D

Studies in both categories of Cognition and:
Cardiovascular (7 studies), Genetics (9 studies), Vitamin D Receptor (16 studies), Omega-3 (52 studies), Intervention (20 studies), Meta-analyses (22 studies), Depression (24 studies), Parkinson's (24 studies)
Click here for details

Poor cognition 26 percent more likely if low Vitamin D (29 studies) – meta-analysis July 2017
Every schizophrenia measure was improved when vitamin D levels were normalized – June 2021
Cognitive Impairment and Dementia often associated with low Vitamin D – April 2020
IQ levels around the world are falling (perhaps lower Vitamin D, Iodine, or Omega-3)
Search VitaminDWiki for "WHITE MATTER" 325 items as of March 2023

Types of evidence that Vitamin D helps brain problems - 2014

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VitaminDWiki - Omega-3 helps many health problems

407 Omega-3 items in category Omega-3 helps with: Autism (7 studies), Depression (28 studies), Cardiovascular (34 studies), Cognition (52 studies), Pregnancy (44 studies), Infant (34 studies), Obesity (14 studies), Mortality (7 studies), Breast Cancer (5 studies), Smoking, Sleep, Stroke, Longevity, Trauma (12 studies), Inflammation (18 studies), Multiple Sclerosis (9 studies), VIRUS (12 studies), etc
CIlck here for details

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VitaminDWiki - Overview: Omega-3 many benefits include helping vitamin D

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VitaminDWiki founder was unable to get his Omega-3 index >4 until he reduced Omega-6 intake