Higher Levels of DHA Associated With Reduced Risk of Cognitive Impairment

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in cold water, fatty fish such as salmon and herring. A new report suggests that higher levels of DHA may help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment by up to 49%.

For their study, the researchers used data from 1,490 adults who took part in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. All were over the age of 65 and did not have dementia at the beginning of the study. Participants were followed for an average of 7.2 years. DHA blood levels were measured periodically throughout the study period. Cognitive function was evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study period using the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Participants who had the highest levels of DHA (7%) had a 49% decreased risk of developing incident Alzheimer’s compared to those with the lowest levels (3.4%). They also had a 44% reduced risk of all-cause dementia.

The study was conducted by researchers from Boston University and Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute. It was published online ahead of print on June 9, 2022 in the journal Nutrients.

Lutein and zeaxanthin were found to provide cognitive benefits in a previous study.