Omega-3 fatty acids are associated with blood-brain barrier integrity in a healthy aging population
Open accessAbstract
Abstract In aging populations, omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been associated with better cognitive function, slower rates of cognitive decline, and lower risk of developing dementia. Animal studies have shown that diets rich in omega‐3 PUFAs reduce blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption associated with aging, but this has yet to be observed in humans. Forty‐five healthy subjects (mean age, 76 years) were recruited and underwent cognitive assessment (verbal learning and memory, language, processing speed, executive function, and motor control) and measurement of PUFAs. Forty of the same subjects also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure BBB integrity ( K trans using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI). The long chain omega‐3 score (DHA+EPA) was negatively correlated with K trans values in the internal capsule, indicating higher omega‐3 levels were associated with greater BBB integrity in this region ( r = –0.525, p = .004). Trends were observed for a positive correlation between the long chain omega‐3 score and both memory and language scores, but not with executive function, speed, or motor control. The omega‐6 score was not significantly correlated with any cognitive scores or K trans values. The significant correlations between long chain omega‐3 levels and BBB integrity provide a possible mechanism by which omega‐3 PUFAs are associated with brain health.
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Long-chain omega-3 levels are significantly correlated with blood-brain barrier integrity and cognition.
“Recent findings showed significant correlations between long-chain omega-3 levels and blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity and cognition, providing evidence of a possible mechanism by which omega-3 may contribute to brain health [103].”
From Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: Beyond Symptomatic Therapies (2023) · cites this paper as [103]
The Abstract reports a significant correlation between long-chain omega-3 levels and BBB integrity, but only trends for memory and language scores. Although the Discussion conclusion calls both correlations significant, the Discussion also describes the cognitive association as marginal and says the study did not find statistically significant correlations with neuropsychological measures. The claim overstates the cognitive finding. (LLM, conf=0.89)
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References 61 · Cited by 47
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Campbell, W. W., Barohn, R. J., & DeJong, R. N. (2019). DeJong's the neurologic examination. Wolters Kluwer.
- Wechsler, D., Psychological, C., & Pearson Education, I. (2008). WAIS‐IV: Wechsler adult intelligence scale.
- Authors
- Barnes, S., Chowdhury, S., Gatto, N. M., Fraser, G. E., & Lee, G. J.
- Affiliations
- Loma Linda University Medical Center (US)
- Claremont Graduate University (US)
- Loma Linda University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barnes, Samuel
- Venue
- Brain and Behavior
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-07-29
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- e2273-e2273
- ISSN
- 2157-9032 (ISSN-L)
- 2162-3279
- PMC
- PMC8413753
- OpenAlex
- W3184008097
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 4.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain and Behavior (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Loma Linda University
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- omega-3 fatty acids, blood-brain barrier integrity, healthy aging, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, EPA, omega-6 fatty acids, cognitive function, memory, dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, Ktrans, internal capsule, brain health
- MeSH terms
- Healthy Aging, Aged, Animals, Blood-Brain Barrier, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Humans, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Cognitive Dysfunction
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