Docosahexaenoic acid is the major fatty acid found in the brain and several researches have shown that the DHA content in the brain and plasma is reduced in patients with dementia.
The aim of this study was to assess the association between plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) DHA concentration and risk of developing dementia.
A prospective follow-up study.
899 men and women of median age 76 years without dementia at the baseline.
A mean follow-up of 9.1 years was done to assess the development of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD).
After adjusting variables, the subjects with highest quartile of PC DHA were associated with significantly lower risk for developing all cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (Relative risk {RR} 0.53 {95% CI, 0.29-0.97: p=0.04} and RR 0.61 {95% CI, 0.31-1.18, p=0.14}), respectively.
A 47% of reduction in the risk of developing all cause dementia was reported
It was concluded that the highest quartile of PC DHA levels were associated with a significant reduction of developing all cause dementia
Schaefer EJ, Bongard V, Beiser AS, et al. Plasma phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid content and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease: the Framingham Heart Study. Arch Neurol. 2006;63(11):1545-1550.
