title: Association of Serum Docosahexaenoic Acid With Cerebral Amyloidosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Higher dietary intake of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic (DHA) has been associated with better cognitive performance in several epidemiological studies. Animal and in vitro studies also indicate that DHA prevents amyloid deposition in the brain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between serum DHA levels, cerebral amyloidosis, and the volumes of brain areas affected by Alzheimer disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of serum DHA levels together with measures of amyloid deposition (Pittsburgh Compound B index), brain volumes, and neuropsychological testing scores from 61 participants in the Aging Brain Study. The study was conducted between June 2008 and May 2013, and the data were analyzed between October 2015 and April 2016. Linear models were adjusted for age, sex, years of education, and apolipoprotein E status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum DHA levels with cerebral amyloidosis measured using PIB PET.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples were available from 61 Aging Brain Study participants (41 women and 20 men) who underwent amyloid PET imaging. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 77 (6) years and ranged from 67 to 88 years. Serum DHA levels (percentage of total fatty acids) were 23% lower in participants with cerebral amyloidosis than those without (0.97 vs 1.25, P = .007) and were inversely correlated with brain amyloid load (r = -0.32, P = .01) independent of age, sex, apolipoprotein E genotype, and years of education. Moreover, greater serum DHA levels were positively associated with brain volume in several subregions affected by AD, in particular the left subiculum (r = 0.38, P = .005) and the left entorhinal volumes (r = 0.51, P = .001). Serum DHA levels were also associated with nonverbal memory scores (r = 0.28, P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, serum DHA levels were associated with pathogenesis of cerebral amyloidosis and with preservation of entorhinal and hippocampal volumes. These findings suggest an important role for DHA metabolism in brain amyloid deposition during the preclinical or early symptomatic stages of Alzheimer disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Hussein N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Yassine
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Qingru
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azizkhanian
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.affiliation: Huntington Medical Research Institute, Pasadena, California.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Castor
authors.affiliation: Huntington Medical Research Institute, Pasadena, California.
authors.forename: Alfred N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Fonteh
authors.affiliation: Huntington Medical Research Institute, Pasadena, California.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacarmento.
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacarmento.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeCarli
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jagust
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Helena C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: C475519:2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids