ω-3 fatty acids and domain-specific cognitive aging: secondary analyses of data from WHISCA.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that higher levels of red blood cell (RBC) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have a protective association with domain-specific cognitive function in women aged 65 years and older.


METHODS
A total of 2,157 women with normal cognition enrolled in a clinical trial of postmenopausal hormone therapy were followed with annual cognitive testing for a median of 5.9 years. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed the relationship between prerandomization RBC DHA + EPA levels and a) cognitive measures at baseline, and b) cognitive change over time. Endpoints were composite cognitive function and performance in 7 cognitive domains: fine motor speed, verbal memory, visual memory, spatial ability, verbal knowledge, verbal fluency, and working memory.


RESULTS
After adjustment for demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics, no significant (p < 0.01) cross-sectional cognitive differences were found between women in the high and low DHA + EPA tertiles at the time of the first annual cognitive battery. In addition, no significant (p < 0.01) differences were found between the high and low DHA + EPA tertiles in the rate of cognitive change over time.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not find an association between RBC DHA + EPA levels and age-associated cognitive decline in a cohort of older, dementia-free women.
From the Department of Epidemiology (E.M.A., R.W., R.M.C., J.G.R.), College of Public Health, and Departments of Internal Medicine (R.W., J.G.R.) and Neurology (N.L.D.), College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City; OmegaQuant Analytics (J.V.P., W.S.H.), Sioux Falls; Department of Medicine (W.S.H.), Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion; and Department of Biostatistical Sciences (M.A.E.), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
Eric M
EM
Ammann
James V
JV
Pottala
William S
WS
Harris
Mark A
MA
Espeland
Robert
R
Wallace
Natalie L
NL
Denburg
Ryan M
RM
Carnahan
Jennifer G
JG
Robinson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid