title: Plasma long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The long-chain ω-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are potential candidates for interventions to delay Alzheimer disease (AD), but evidence from clinical studies is mixed. We aimed at determining whether plasma levels of EPA or DHA predict atrophy of medial temporal lobe (MTL) gray matter regions in older subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 281 community dwellers from the Three-City Study, aged 65 years or older, had plasma fatty acid measurements at baseline and underwent MRI examinations at baseline and at 4 years. We studied the association between plasma EPA and DHA and MTL gray matter volume change at 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher plasma EPA, but not DHA, was associated with lower gray matter atrophy of the right hippocampal/parahippocampal area and of the right amygdala (p < 0.05, familywise error corrected). Based on a mean right amygdala volume loss of 6.0 mm(3)/y (0.6%), a 1 SD higher plasma EPA (+0.64% of total plasma fatty acids) at baseline was related to a 1.3 mm(3) smaller gray matter loss per year in the right amygdala. Higher atrophy of the right amygdala was associated with greater 4-year decline in semantic memory performances and more depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amygdala, which develops neuropathology in the early stage of AD and is involved in the pathogenesis of depression, may be an important brain structure involved in the association between EPA and cognitive decline and depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiologie de la nutrition et des comportements alimentaires, Centre INSERM U897-Epidemiologie-Biostatistique, Bordeaux, France. Cecilia.Samieri@isped.u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: Cécilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samieri
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crivello
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Proust-Lima
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peuchant
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amieva
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dartigues
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.forename: Bernard M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mazoyer
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barberger-Gateau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology; D001284:Atrophy / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3