• Junko Nishihira, Takashi Tokashiki, Yasushi Higashiuesato, Donald Craig Willcox, Nora Mattek, Lynne Shinto, Yusuke Ohya, and Hiroko H Dodge.
• Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nephrology and Neurology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
• J. Alzheimers Dis. 2016 Jan 1; 51 (3): 857-66.

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have found frequent consumption of fatty fish is protective against cognitive decline. However, the association between circulating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and cognitive functions among the oldest old is not well known.ObjectiveTo examine the association between serum PUFA levels and cognitive function among community-dwelling, non-demented elderly aged over 80 years old.MethodsThe data came from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging (KOCOA) study; an ongoing cohort of relatively healthy volunteers aged over 80 years old, living in Okinawa, Japan. One hundred eighty five participants (mean age 84.1±3.4 years) assessed in 2011 who were free from frank dementia (defined as Clinical Dementia Rating <1.0) were used for the current cross-sectional study. We examined whether serum omega-3 PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), arachidonic acid (AA), EPA/AA ratio, DHA/AA ratio, and DHA+EPA are associated with (1) age and (2) global cognitive function (Japanese MMSE) and executive function (Verbal Fluency Letter). Data was analyzed univariately by t-test and multivariately by cumulative logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, years of education, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.ResultsSerum DHA levels decreased with increasing age (p = 0.04). Higher global cognitive function was associated with higher levels of serum EPA (p = 0.03) and DHA + EPA (p = 0.03) after controlling for confounders.ConclusionsHigher serum EPA and DHA + EPA levels were independently associated with better scores on global cognitive function among the oldest old, free from dementia. Longitudinal follow-up studies are warranted.

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