Abstract
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) may influence cognition throughout the lifespan. The present chapter will discuss how n-3 PUFA supplementation may impact cognitive development in infants and children, cognitive performance in young adults, and age-related cognitive impairment in older adults. Research examining n-3 PUFA supplementation in mothers and children shows positive effects on certain aspects of cognition; however, there is less evidence to support a role for n-3 PUFAs in global indices of cognitive development. Studies in young adults are quite limited with conflicting effects of n-3 PUFAs on mood and cognitive measures, particularly executive function. In older adulthood, while epidemiological studies suggest that higher n-3 PUFA intake and plasma and/or erythrocyte levels are associated with reduced cognitive decline; results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are less consistent. Though evidence points to a beneficial influence of n-3 PUFAs on cognitive performance across the lifespan, the conclusions remain tenuous and a topic in need of future research.
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