Blogs-33 Omega-3 EFAs Improve Brain Structure and Cognition, Study Shows

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to help support healthy heart function, as well as brain function. And the research continues to show more benefits of these essential fatty acids to cognitive performance, an aspect of health that often is impaired by stress.

According to a new study, healthy participants whose red blood cells contained higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids were found to have better brain structure and cognitive function in middle age -- a time when people also begin to look to take care of their heart health.

Having at least some omega-3s in red blood cells was associated with better brain structure and cognitive function among healthy study volunteers in their 40s and 50s, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Faculty of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and other investigators of the Framingham Heart Study conducted the analysis.

"Studies have looked at this association in older populations. The new contribution here is that, even at younger ages, if you have a diet that includes some omega-3 fatty acids, you are already protecting your brain for most of the indicators of brain aging that we see at middle age," said lead author Claudia Satizabal, PhD.

The average age of the participants was 46. The researchers looked at the relation of red blood cell omega-3 fatty acid concentrations with MRI and cognitive markers of brain aging. Researchers also studied the effect of omega-3 red blood cell concentrations in volunteers who carried APOE4, a genetic variation linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The study of 2,183 participants who were free of dementia and stroke found that:

• Higher omega-3 index was associated with larger hippocampal volumes. The hippocampus, a structure in the brain, plays a major role in learning and memory.
• Consuming more omega-3s was associated with better abstract reasoning, or the ability to understand complex concepts using logical thinking.
• APOE4 carriers with a higher omega-3 index had less small-vessel disease. The APOE4 gene is associated with cardiovascular disease and vascular dementia.

Researchers used gas chromatography to measure DHA and EPA concentrations from red blood cells. The omega-3 index was calculated as DHA plus EPA.

"Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are key micronutrients that enhance and protect the brain," said study coauthor Debora Melo van Lent, PhD. "Our study is one of the first to observe this effect in a younger population. More studies in this age group are needed."

The team divided participants into those who had very little omega-3 red blood cell concentration and those who had at least a little, and more. "We saw the worst outcomes in the people who had the lowest consumption of omega-3s," Satizabal said. "So, that is something interesting. Although the more omega-3 the more benefits for the brain, you just need to eat some to see benefits."

Researchers don't know how DHA and EPA protect the brain. One theory is that, because those fatty acids are needed in the membrane of neurons, when they are replaced with other types of fatty acids, that's when neurons (nerve cells) become unstable. Another explanation may have to deal with the anti-inflammatory properties of DHA and EPA. "It's complex. We don't understand everything yet, but we show that, somehow, if you increase your consumption of omega-3s even by a little bit, you are protecting your brain," Satizabal said.

It's encouraging that DHA and EPA also protected APOE4 carriers' brain health. "It's genetics, so you can't change it," Melo van Lent said, referring to the vulnerability of this risk group. "So, if there is a modifiable risk factor that can outweigh genetic predisposition, that's a big gain."

DHA and EPA are found in high concentrations primarily in cold-water oily fish, but many people don’t like to eat the three servings of fish per week to obtain benefit. Therefore, supplementation is an excellent and well-advised way to flood your body with these miracle fatty acids. Seaweeds are an excellent marine -- and plant-based -- source of EPA and DHA.

Citation：

Satizabal CL, et al. “Association of Red Blood Cell Omega-3 Fatty Acids with MRI Markers and Cognitive Function in Midlife -- The Framingham Heart Study.” Neurology, 2022