Dietary Fatty Acids and Predementia Syndromes

Vincenzo Solfrizzi,Anna M Colacicco,Gianluigi Vendemiale,Cristiano Capurso,Vincenza Frisardi,Antonio Capurso,Francesco Panza,Alessia D' Introno

doi:10.1100/tsw.2009.82

Vincenzo Solfrizzi, Anna M Colacicco + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2009.82

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Abstract

An increasing body of epidemiological evidence suggests that elevated saturated fatty acids (SFA) could have negative effects on age-related cognitive decline (ARCD). Furthermore, a reduction of risk for cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been found in population samples with elevated fish consumption, and high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly n-3 PUFA. However, recent findings from clinical trials with n-3 PUFA supplementation showed efficacy on depressive symptoms in non–Vapolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers, and on cognitive symptoms only in very mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) subgroups, MCI patients, and cognitively unimpaired non-APOE ε4 carriers. These data, together with epidemiological evidence, support the idea that n-3 PUFA may play a role in maintaining adequate cognitive functioning in predementia syndromes, but not when the AD process has already taken over. Therefore, at present, no definitive dietary recommendations on fish and unsaturated fatty acids consumption, or lower intake of saturated fat, in relation to the risk for dementia and cognitive decline are possible.

Highlights

Clinical and epidemiological research has focused on the identification of risk factors that may be modified in predementia syndromes, at a preclinical or early clinical stage of dementing disorders
Recent findings from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA) demonstrated that while dietary fatty acid intakes were not associated with incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), high polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) intake appeared to have a borderline nonsignificant trend for a protective effect against the development of MCI[31] (Table 1)
The baseline data from the Older People And n-3 Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (OPAL) study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining the effect of daily supplementation with 700 mg n-3 PUFA (500 mg DHA and 200 mg EPA) for 24 months on cognitive performance in healthy older persons aged 70–79, suggested that higher fish consumption is associated with better cognitive function in later life[32]

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Clinical and epidemiological research has focused on the identification of risk factors that may be modified in predementia syndromes, at a preclinical or early clinical stage of dementing disorders. The baseline data from the Older People And n-3 Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (OPAL) study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial examining the effect of daily supplementation with 700 mg n-3 PUFA (500 mg DHA and 200 mg EPA) for 24 months on cognitive performance in healthy older persons aged 70–79, suggested that higher fish consumption is associated with better cognitive function in later life[32]. Very recently, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on 302 cognitively healthy (MMSE score >21) individuals aged 65 years or older, the possible impact of n-3 PUFA on the mental well-being and cognitive performance of nondepressed (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score

CONCLUSIONS

Design

Results and Conclusions