Mild Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Omega-3 Supplements Improve Memory and Comprehension

Mild Cognitive Decline in the Elderly: Omega-3 Improve Memory and Intelligence

In elderly people with mild cognitive decline, daily supplementation with omega-3 supports certain brain functions, particularly memory and processing speed. The benefits, observed with 720 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA per day, are due to the different mechanisms of action of the two fatty acids, such as their ability to improve neuronal connections, nerve signal transmission, and anti-inflammatory properties.

These are the findings of a study conducted by researchers at Zhengzhou University (China) and published in the journal Nutrients.

What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment? 

Cognitive impairment is a very common condition among the elderly and is particularly widespread in Western countries, partly due to increased life expectancy. Mild cognitive impairment, also known as MCI (mild cognitive impairment), is a neurological condition characterized by a slight decline in brain functions without compromising the ability to perform normal daily activities. This condition represents an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia. Additionally, an individual with MCI has a 10 times greater risk of developing dementia compared to healthy individuals. Therefore, halting mild cognitive decline could become a crucial step in preventing dementia. No effective pharmacological treatment has been identified to date, but omega-3 EPA and DHA may play a protective role against age-related cognitive decline. Clinical studies in healthy elderly and those with MCI or Alzheimer's disease suggest that people with cognitive decline are more likely to respond to the effects of omega-3. These fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to reduce the production of some arachidonic acid–derived substances with pro-inflammatory, platelet-aggregating, vasoconstrictive, and hypertensive functions.

EPA and DHA Supplements Improve Various Cognitive Functions in the Elderly

According to the Chinese study results, daily supplementation with EPA and DHA can have positive effects in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment and may play a preventive role against Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, using particular cognitive tests, researchers found that MCI patients who received omega-3 supplements showed improvements in perceptual speed, spatial efficiency, and working memory compared to those who did not receive supplementation, while no benefits were observed regarding arithmetic efficiency or recognition memory. Furthermore, scientists noted that men and women responded differently to omega-3 treatment; male patients showed significant improvements particularly in perceptual speed, spatial efficiency, and working memory, while women seemed to benefit more in perceptual speed and spatial efficiency. Independently commenting on the study results, Harry Rice, Vice President of the organization for EPA and DHA (GOED), expressed optimism about the research, confirming that delaying cognitive decline through omega-3 is a reasonable and desirable goal, especially considering that people with MCI are at high risk of developing dementia. However, Rice also acknowledged the small sample size involved in this study and some differing results obtained previously, emphasizing the need, as confirmed by the study authors themselves, to conduct further research to confirm the effect of omega-3 in dementia prevention. A future research direction will likely focus on studying the Apolipoprotein-ε4 gene, identified as an important genetic risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.

Research Details

Researchers recruited several individuals living in China affected by mild cognitive decline, with an average age of 71 years. Eighty-six of these, deemed suitable for the study, were randomly assigned to receive daily supplementation containing 720 milligrams of EPA and 480 milligrams of DHA (with an EPA:DHA ratio of 3:2) or a placebo based on olive oil for six months. It should be noted that both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommend omega-3 intake ranging from 0.25 grams to 2 grams per day for the elderly. Blood analyses were performed for each patient both before and after omega-3 treatment, as well as baseline cognitive tests to assess various cognitive abilities. After six months, DHA and EPA concentrations in peripheral blood collected from subjects who received supplementation were significantly higher than those in the placebo group, while no differences were found for other polyunsaturated fatty acids. Compared to pre-intervention results, overall test scores improved in both groups after treatment, but the omega-3 group showed statistically significant improvement compared to the placebo group.

Mechanisms of Action of Omega-3

Several studies have demonstrated that EPA and DHA exert anti-inflammatory activities, and their positive effects are commonly attributed to these properties. Numerous scientific works have shown that treatment with EPA and DHA can reduce in the blood some inflammatory molecules such as cytokines (IL-6, IL-10) and TNF-α. Various mechanisms might explain the potential positive effect of omega-3 on cognitive abilities. EPA and DHA fatty acids constitute more than 30% of the phospholipids in cell membranes and thus strongly influence the structure, fluidity, and signal transduction in neuronal cells. Moreover, EPA and DHA modulate certain genes that facilitate synaptic plasticity, i.e., the nervous system’s ability to modify interactions between neurons. These fatty acids also influence the metabolism of B vitamins and homocysteine and activate mechanisms that generate energy involving sugars and lipids. Finally, omega-3 can protect cognitive function by modulating the immune response to beta-amyloid protein, one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease.

EPA and DHA to Prevent Dementia?

According to the researchers who led the study, the results suggest that omega-3 supplementation may have positive effects in elderly individuals with mild dementia. If these findings are confirmed by larger studies able to further explore the mechanisms of action and effective dosages, EPA and DHA could represent a valid and early intervention for dementia prevention.

Which Omega-3 Supplements Improve Memory in Old Age?

OMEGOR Mind is a dietary supplement useful as a tonic for memory and cognitive functions, especially for people over 55. Two capsules a day of Omegor Mind provide 326 mg of omega-3 and 225 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract, a plant used for millennia in Ayurvedic medicine as a memory tonic, along with various vitamins and minerals. 

Source: Y. Bo et al. (2017). “The n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Supplementation Improved the cognitive Function in the Chinese Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial” Nutrients Volume 9, Number 1, Pages 54.