DHA and cognitive development in children: updated evidence

Definitive tests and exact dosages will arrive in the future, but evidence of the role of DHA in children's cognitive development is already available today. This fat, abundant in the brain, is increasingly emerging as a key ally in children's academic success. Let's find out what makes us think so.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a fat essential for the development and normal functioning of the brain.

Its importance is primarily structural. In fact, it is the main omega-3 in the brain's gray matter and, alone, represents about 15% of all fatty acids present in the human frontal cortex.

Its role, however, extends to neuronal function; in fact, the presence of adequate amounts of DHA allows these cells to function optimally.

This is all thanks to its chemical structure: the presence of numerous double bonds gives the membranes into which it is inserted a fluidity that facilitates the transmission of signals.

Furthermore, some substances produced from DHA act as bioactive molecules that protect tissues from oxidative damage and stress.

In this context, an insufficient intake of DHA can compromise the structural and functional integrity of critical areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and cortex.

But that's not all. While it's true that primary brain growth, measured in terms of weight, occurs from birth to two years of age, brain development doesn't stop there; some brain areas continue to develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and during this period, neuronal maturation, synapse formation, and gray matter expansion are all rapid processes closely associated with the accumulation of DHA in their tissues.

A critical aspect is the myelination of the frontal lobes, which begins as early as 6 months of age and continues with peak development at 2 years of age, between 7 and 9 years of age, and throughout adolescence. Since DHA is essential at all these stages, its constant availability is necessary to support the continued growth of the central nervous system.

DHA and cognitive functions: from attention to executive functions

Specifically, regarding the development of cognitive abilities, the most basic forms, such as attention and memory, begin to evolve at a very early age. More advanced, goal-oriented behaviors (so-called executive functions: strategic planning, reasoning, and problem solving) appear at later stages of development.

The frontal lobes, particularly rich in DHA, are considered the centers responsible for these higher-order cognitive activities. This omega-3 directly influences neurotransmitters, the transmission of nerve impulses across synapses, and signal transduction. Human studies have shown that adequate levels of DHA support normal intelligence quotient (IQ) and preserve learning and visuospatial memory.

The impact of DHA deficiency and cognitive development disorders

Scientific research has also found an association between low Omega 3 levels and various behavioral and cognitive difficulties:

• in animals, DHA deficiency is associated with spatial and serial learning problems, memory deficits, increased depressive symptoms and aggressive behavior;
• In children, however, low levels of Omega 3 in the blood and a high Omega 6/Omega 3 ratio have been associated with developmental and behavioral disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Although the results of studies evaluating the benefits of DHA supplementation are inconsistent, several studies have found improvements in symptoms and learning outcomes in these children after supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids. This raises the question of whether healthy children, especially those with suboptimal DHA levels due to inadequate dietary intake, might also benefit from increased DHA intake.

Neurophysiological evidence for the benefits of DHA for children's cognitive development

Cognitive tests used to evaluate the benefits of DHA supplementation on children's cognitive development have not always shown significant changes, especially in healthy children, where improvements can be subtle. Neurophysiological tests, based on direct assessment of brain activity, are more evident.

In a 2010 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Robert McNamara and colleagues used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe brain activity during a sustained attention task. Although the results of the standardized test showed no significant differences, the MRI confirmed greater activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in children who had received DHA supplementation.

Similarly, electroencephalograms obtained in a study by Olivier Boucher and colleagues, also published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed a significant positive association between DHA levels and brain activity during standardized tests.

Finally, even in young adults, the use of spectroscopy has allowed us to associate the intake of DHA-rich fish oil with increased blood flow in the brain during cognitive tasks.

These data suggest that DHA does indeed alter brain function, even when traditional behavioral tests are not sensitive enough to detect it.

DHA and academic performance: reading and writing

Furthermore, despite variability in cognitive tests, several studies have shown a positive impact of DHA on academic performance. Of seven studies analyzed in a 2013 review published in Nutrients, five reported that DHA levels or supplementation improved skills such as learning, reading, and spelling.

The improvement in reading skills was observed especially in children with poor initial skills, while in other cases the supplementation allowed them to maintain spelling skills, which had instead declined in the control group.

Reading is considered a fundamental skill for all academic learning; children who don't master it in the early years struggle to understand material in later years, and this leads to a decline in motivation and self-esteem.

DHA may work by simultaneously improving small areas of cognitive function, such as memory and attention, which together facilitate complex tasks like reading and writing.

The importance of the DHA/ARA ratio in newborns

Finally, some studies suggest that, at least in the very first years of life, the benefits of DHA for the development of cognitive abilities could also depend on its relationship with another polyunsaturated fat important for the development of the central nervous system: arachidonic acid (ARA), belonging to the Omega 6 series.

ARA is essential for the structural and functional integrity of the nervous system and is a precursor to molecules that influence brain processes, and scientific research has provided evidence that the neurological, cognitive, and visual development of infants is sensitive to the ratio of DHA to ARA.

Breast milk, considered the gold standard for nutrition in the first months of life, naturally contains both of these nutrients; infant formulas, however, may present challenges. Indeed, there are concerns that adding only DHA without ARA could cause ARA deficiency, because DHA competes for the same enzyme (Δ-6 desaturase) needed for ARA synthesis, the activity of which is already naturally low in newborns.

Studies indicate that a DHA/ARA ratio of 0.5 to 1.0 is optimal for significantly improving cognitive function. However, the need to mandate the addition of ARA in infant formulas is still questionable.

In the United States and other countries, the addition of both is mandatory, while in the European Union, the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has made only DHA mandatory, considering that infants can synthesize ARA and that long-term data on the safety of its addition to formula are lacking.

The main concern with ARA is its pro-inflammatory potential. However, available data suggest that when the DHA/ARA ratio is too high, it produces competitive inhibition that can hinder improvements in cognitive function.

In the future, European populations may benefit most from a balanced DHA/ARA ratio of between 0.5 and 1.

Intake strategies and nutritional recommendations

For all of the above, an adequate intake of DHA must be guaranteed from the very early stages of life.

Every baby begins receiving DHA in utero, when a maternal intake of 250 mg of DHA + EPA plus an additional 200 mg of DHA per day is considered essential for proper brain development. These benefits continue during breastfeeding through breast milk or fortified formulas.

Once weaning begins, the primary food sources become fish. However, consuming omega-3-rich fish in children presents some challenges:

• possible mercury contamination;
• possible presence of thorns;
• phenomena of selectivity and food refusal common in childhood.

Since the human body is very inefficient at synthesizing DHA from its precursors, consuming food sources that already contain this omega-3 (such as fish) is important. In this context, dietary supplements specifically formulated for children and adolescents are a valuable aid in ensuring the necessary intake.

EFSA recommends a daily dose of 250 mg as a guideline for healthy brain function. However, clinical studies showing significant benefits in children with learning disabilities or in healthy children have used doses up to 600 mg per day.

While it remains to be seen whether 600 mg is the optimal dose for all healthy children, it seems clear that nutritional optimization is a key environmental factor for academic success, social well-being, and self-esteem in children. Investing in proper nutrition supports not only the physical growth of the brain, but also the future potential of an individual.

Bibliographic references:

Boucher O, Burden MJ, Muckle G, Saint-Amour D, Ayotte P, Dewailly E, Nelson CA, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL. Neurophysiological and neurobehavioral evidence of beneficial effects of prenatal omega-3 fatty acid intake on memory function at school age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):1025-37. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.000323

Carlson SE, Colombo J. DHA and Cognitive Development. J Nutr. 2021 Nov 2;151(11):3265-3266. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab299

European Commission. Food and Feed Information Portal Database . Last viewed: February 19, 2026.

Kuratko CN, Barrett EC, Nelson EB, Salem N Jr. The relationship of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with learning and behavior in healthy children: a review. Nutrients. 2013 Jul 19;5(7):2777-810. doi: 10.3390/nu5072777

McNamara RK, Able J, Jandacek R, Rider T, Tso P, Eliassen JC, Alfieri D, Weber W, Jarvis K, DelBello MP, Strakowski SM, Adler CM. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation increases prefrontal cortex activation during sustained attention in healthy boys: a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Apr;91(4):1060-7. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28549

Tian A, Xu L, Szeto IM, Wang X, Li D. Effects of Different Proportions of DHA and ARA on Cognitive Development in Infants: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2025 Mar 20;17(6):1091. doi: 10.3390/nu17061091