Key result
A low omega-3 index was significantly associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in older adults (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.14-2.76; p=0.01).
Why the study?
Is a low omega-3 index associated with cognitive impairment in older adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=720)
Is a low omega-3 index associated with cognitive impairment in older adults?
Odds Ratio: 1.77 (95% CI 1.14–2.76)
p-value: p=0.01
A low omega-3 index is significantly associated with cognitive impairment in older adults, suggesting a potential role for omega-3 PUFAs in maintaining cognitive function.
Low omega-3 index was associated with cognitive impairment; leaves open whether supplementation prevents decline in older adults.
BACKGROUND: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may affect the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted among 720 (50.4% women) participants aged 68-92 years (mean age: 77.6, SD ±6.2) of the population-based KORA-Age study. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3 index) were measured in erythrocytes as a percentage of total fatty acids. The categories low (<5.7), intermediate (5.7-6.8), and high (>6.8) levels of the omega-3 index were built using tertiles. The association between cognitive status and omega-3 levels was assessed by logistic regression analyses with adjustments for important concurrent risk factors of cognitive decline. RESULTS: In the sex- and age-adjusted model (model 1), subjects with a low omega-3 index were at a significantly higher risk for cognitive impairment (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.15-2.73, p = 0.009). This association remained stable after further adjusting for educational level (model 2; OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.13-2.71, p = 0.01) and metabolic risk factors (model 3; OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.14-2.75, p = 0.01). After further controlling for affective disorders (model 4), the association did not attenuate (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.14-2.76, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A robust association was found between low omega-3 levels and cognitive impairment in an elderly population. Further research is needed to understand the link between omega-3 PUFA and cognitive functioning.
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Lukaschek et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in Cognitive impairment (n=720). Low omega-3 index (<5.7) vs. Intermediate (5.7-6.8) and high (>6.8) omega-3 index was evaluated on Cognitive impairment (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.14-2.76, p=0.01). A low omega-3 index was significantly associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in older adults (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.14-2.76; p=0.01).
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