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Docosahexaenoic acid and the aging brain
Lukiw WJ, Bazan NG.. The Journal of nutrition, 2008-12-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The dietary essential PUFA docosahexaenoic acid [DHA; 22:6(n-3)] is a critical contributor to cell structure and function in the nervous system, and deficits in DHA abundance are associated with cognitive decline during aging and in neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies underscore the importance of DHA-derived neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) in the homeostatic regulation of brain cell survival and repair involving neurotrophic, antiapoptotic and antiinflammatory signaling. Emerging evidence suggests that NPD1 synthesis is activated by growth factors and neurotrophins.
Key findings
- Recent studies underscore the importance of DHA-derived neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) in the homeostatic regulation of brain cell survival and repair involving neurotrophic, antiapoptotic and antiinflammatory signaling.
- Emerging evidence suggests that NPD1 synthesis is activated by growth factors and neurotrophins.
- Evolving research indicates that NPD1 has important determinant and regulatory interactions with the molecular-genetic mechanisms affecting beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) and amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide neurobiology.
- Deficits in DHA or its peroxidation appear to contribute to inflammatory signaling, apoptosis, and neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer disease (AD), a common and progressive age-related neurological disorder unique to structures and processes of the human brain.
Why it matters
This review discusses the role of docosahexaenoic acid and its derivative neuroprotectin D1 in brain cell survival and repair, and their interactions with amyloid precursor protein mechanisms. It is a review and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of nutrition) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Nutrition: journal h-index 372 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 248 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.4 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Nicolas Guillermo Bazan: h-index 97 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans: institution h-index 503 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19022980) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3945/jn.108.096016
- PubMed: 19022980
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Nutrition →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lukiw, W. J., & Bazan, N. G. (2008). Docosahexaenoic acid and the aging brain. The Journal of nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.096016
Vancouver
Lukiw WJ, Bazan NG. Docosahexaenoic acid and the aging brain. The Journal of nutrition. 2008. doi:10.3945/jn.108.096016. PMID: 19022980.
BibTeX
@article{lukiw2008-19022980,
author = {Lukiw, W. J. and Bazan, N. G.},
title = {{Docosahexaenoic acid and the aging brain}},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.3945/jn.108.096016},
pmid = {19022980},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.096016}
}
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