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Cognitive Changes with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Non-Demented Older Adults with Low Omega-3 Index
Hooper C, De Souto Barreto P, Coley N, Cantet C, Cesari M, Andrieu S, Vellas B.. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 2017-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objectives To investigate the changes in specific domains of cognitive function in older adults reporting subjective memory complaints with a low omega-3 index receiving omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation or placebo. Design This is a secondary exploratory analysis of the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT) using subjects randomized to the n-3 PUFA supplementation or placebo group. Setting French community dwellers aged 70 or over reporting subjective memory complaints, but free from clinical dementia. Participants A subgroup of MAPT subjects in the lowest quartile of omega-3 index distribution with baseline values ≤ 4.83 % (n = 183). Intervention The n-3 PUFA supplementation group consumed a daily dose of DHA (800 mg) and EPA (a maximum amount of 225 mg) for 3 years. The placebo group received identical capsules comprising liquid paraffin oil. Measurements Linear mixed-model repeated-measures analyses were used including baseline, 6, 12, 24 and 36-month follow-up data to assess between-group differences in the change in eight cognitive tests over 36 months. Results There was less decline on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) in the n-3 PUFA supplementation group compared to placebo (p = 0.009; between group mean difference over 36 months, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.6,4.0). No significant differences for any of the other cognitive tests were found, including other tests of executive functioning, although, numerically all results were in favour of the n-3 PUFA supplementation. Conclusions We found some evidence that n-3 PUFAs might be beneficial for the maintenance of executive functioning in older adults at risk of dementia with low omega-3 index, but this exploratory finding requires further confirmation. A larger specifically designed randomised controlled trial could be merited.
Key findings
- Results There was less decline on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) in the n-3 PUFA supplementation group compared to placebo (p = 0.009; between group mean difference over 36 months, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.6,4.0).
- No significant differences for any of the other cognitive tests were found, including other tests of executive functioning, although, numerically all results were in favour of the n-3 PUFA supplementation.
- Conclusions We found some evidence that n-3 PUFAs might be beneficial for the maintenance of executive functioning in older adults at risk of dementia with low omega-3 index, but this exploratory finding requires further confirmation.
Why it matters
In this subgroup of older adults with memory complaints and low omega-3 levels, omega-3 supplementation for 3 years showed less decline on one verbal fluency test, but no significant differences on the other cognitive tests. This offers only limited evidence and does not show that omega-3 prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants183
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 66/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The journal of nutrition, health & aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | The journal of nutrition health & aging: journal h-index 122 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 183 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 69 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.3 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Bruno J. Vellas: h-index 135 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29083439) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 66 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5
- PubMed: 29083439
- Original source →
- Free full text: The journal of nutrition health & aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hooper, C., De Souto Barreto, P., Coley, N., Cantet, C., Cesari, M., Andrieu, S., et al. (2017). Cognitive Changes with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Non-Demented Older Adults with Low Omega-3 Index. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5
Vancouver
Hooper C, De Souto Barreto P, Coley N, Cantet C, Cesari M, Andrieu S, et al. Cognitive Changes with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Non-Demented Older Adults with Low Omega-3 Index. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2017. doi:10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5. PMID: 29083439.
BibTeX
@article{hooper2017-29083439,
author = {Hooper, C. and De Souto Barreto, P. and Coley, N. and Cantet, C. and Cesari, M. and Andrieu, S. and Vellas, B.},
title = {{Cognitive Changes with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Non-Demented Older Adults with Low Omega-3 Index}},
journal = {The journal of nutrition, health \& aging},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5},
pmid = {29083439},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-017-0957-5}
}
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