RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Higher RBC EPA + DHA corresponds with larger total brain and hippocampal volumes
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 435
OP 442
DO 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000080
VO 82
IS 5
A1 James V. Pottala
A1 Kristine Yaffe
A1 Jennifer G. Robinson
A1 Mark A. Espeland
A1 Robert Wallace
A1 William S. Harris
YR 2014
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/82/5/435.abstract
AB Objective: To test whether red blood cell (RBC) levels of marine omega-3 fatty acids measured in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study were related to MRI brain volumes measured 8 years later.Methods: RBC eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and MRI brain volumes were assessed in 1,111 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. The endpoints were total brain volume and anatomical regions. Linear mixed models included multiple imputations of fatty acids and were adjusted for hormone therapy, time since randomization, demographics, intracranial volume, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.Results: In fully adjusted models, a 1 SD greater RBC EPA + DHA (omega-3 index) level was correlated with 2.1 cm3 larger brain volume (p = 0.048). DHA was marginally correlated (p = 0.063) with total brain volume while EPA was less so (p = 0.11). There were no correlations between ischemic lesion volumes and EPA, DHA, or EPA + DHA. A 1 SD greater omega-3 index was correlated with greater hippocampal volume (50 mm3, p = 0.036) in fully adjusted models. Comparing the fourth quartile vs the first quartile of the omega-3 index confirmed greater hippocampal volume (159 mm3, p = 0.034).Conclusion: A higher omega-3 index was correlated with larger total normal brain volume and hippocampal volume in postmenopausal women measured 8 years later. While normal aging results in overall brain atrophy, lower omega-3 index may signal increased risk of hippocampal atrophy. Future studies should examine whether maintaining higher RBC EPA + DHA levels slows the rate of hippocampal or overall brain atrophy.AD=Alzheimer disease; CRP=C-reactive protein; DHA=docosahexaenoic acid; EPA=eicosapentaenoic acid; FA=fatty acid; HDL=high-density lipoprotein; HT=hormone therapy; Q1=first quartile; Q4=fourth quartile; RBC=red blood cell; WHI=Women's Health Initiative; WHIMS=Women's Health Initiative Memory Study