Supplementing with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can improve memory and learning function in weeks, research suggests.
DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid derived from fish oil. An encouraging body of evidence suggests that upping your intake of DHA brings cognitive benefits.
An important study in the literature examined the role DHA might play in ameliorating age-related memory decline.
Researchers recruited a total of 485 healthy older adults with age-related memory decline and assigned them either 900 mg/d of DHA orally or placebo for 24 weeks.
Omega-3 helps maintain the fluidity and flexibility of neuronal membranes
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The participants were put through a series of memory and learning tests to assess the impact of DHA on cognitive function.
What did the researchers find out?
DHA supplementation was associated with fewer errors, and improved verbal memory and learning, but not working memory or executive function (the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully).
DHA was well tolerated with no reported treatment-related serious adverse events.
“Twenty-four week supplementation with 900 mg/d DHA improved learning and memory function in age-related memory decline and is a beneficial supplement that supports cognitive health with ageing,” the study authors concluded.
Research suggests the benefits may extend to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of DHA in their brains than older adults with good brain function.
Additionally, in a review of 20 observational studies, higher intake of omega-3 fats was linked to a reduced risk of declining mental ability — a characteristic of different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease — in all but three studies.
Not all studies have drawn this conclusion. Most of research is observational so causation has not been established.
Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of DHA in their brains
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What’s more, most of the higher-quality controlled studies agree that supplementing with omega-3s from fish oil does not appear to improve brain function in healthy individuals with no existing memory problems.
In a study of 159 young adults, taking supplements containing one gram of fish oil per day did not improve brain function, compared to a placebo.
What might explain the effect?
As a major structural component of neuronal membranes, DHA helps maintain the fluidity and flexibility of neuronal membranes.
Neurons are the fundamental working units of the brain. They are designed to transmit information to other cells, enabling the body to function.
By helping to maintain the fluidity and flexibility of neuronal membranes, DHA plays an essential in neuronal communication via neurotransmitter receptors that are expressed on the cell membrane.
In other words, DHA is “crucial for maintaining optimal brain function, including learning and memory processes”, Amy Reichelt, Chief Innovation Officer at PurMinds Neuropharma tells GB News.
Laura Adams is a tech enthusiast residing in the UK. Her articles cover the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
