PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Ammann, Eric M. AU - Pottala, James V. AU - Harris, William S. AU - Espeland, Mark A. AU - Wallace, Robert AU - Denburg, Natalie L. AU - Carnahan, Ryan M. AU - Robinson, Jennifer G. TI - Omega-3 fatty acids and domain-specific cognitive aging AID - 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a9584c DP - 2013 Oct 22 TA - Neurology PG - 1484--1491 VI - 81 IP - 17 4099 - http://n.neurology.org/content/81/17/1484.short 4100 - http://n.neurology.org/content/81/17/1484.full SO - Neurology2013 Oct 22; 81 AB - 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.CI=confidence interval; DHA=docosahexaenoic acid; EPA=eicosapentaenoic acid; HT=hormone therapy; PUFA=polyunsaturated fatty acid; RBC=red blood cell; WHI=Women's Health Initiative; WHISCA=Women's Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging