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Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial
Quinn JF, Raman R, Thomas RG, Yurko-Mauro K, Nelson EB, Van Dyck C, Galvin JE, Emond J et al.. JAMA, 2010-11-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of DHA is associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer disease. Results A total of 402 individuals were randomized and a total of 295 participants completed the trial while taking study medication (DHA: 171; placebo: 124). The CDR sum of boxes score increased by 2.87 points (95% CI, 2.44-3.30 points) for the DHA group during 18 months compared with 2.93 points (95% CI, 2.44-3.42 points) for the placebo group (linear mixed-effects model: P = .68). Individuals in the DHA group had a mean decline in total brain volume of 24.7 cm(3) (95% CI, 21.4-28.0 cm(3)) during 18 months and a 1.32% (95% CI, 1.14%-1.50%) volume decline per year compared with 24.0 cm(3) (95% CI, 20-28 cm(3)) for the placebo group during 18 months and a 1.29% (95% CI, 1.07%-1.51%) volume decline per year (P = .79). Conclusion Supplementation with DHA compared with placebo did not slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Quinn, J. F., Raman, R., Thomas, R. G., Yurko-Mauro, K., Nelson, E. B., Van Dyck, C., et al. (2010). Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.1510
Vancouver
Quinn JF, Raman R, Thomas RG, Yurko-Mauro K, Nelson EB, Van Dyck C, et al. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.1510. PMID: 21045096.
BibTeX
@article{quinn2010-21045096,
author = {Quinn, J. F. and Raman, R. and Thomas, R. G. and Yurko-Mauro, K. and Nelson, E. B. and Van Dyck, C. and Galvin, J. E. and Emond, J. and others},
title = {{Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation and cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease: a randomized trial}},
journal = {JAMA},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1001/jama.2010.1510},
pmid = {21045096},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.1510}
}
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Key findings
- Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of DHA is associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer disease.
- Results A total of 402 individuals were randomized and a total of 295 participants completed the trial while taking study medication (DHA: 171; placebo: 124).
- The CDR sum of boxes score increased by 2.87 points (95% CI, 2.44-3.30 points) for the DHA group during 18 months compared with 2.93 points (95% CI, 2.44-3.42 points) for the placebo group (linear mixed-effects model: P = .68).
- Individuals in the DHA group had a mean decline in total brain volume of 24.7 cm(3) (95% CI, 21.4-28.0 cm(3)) during 18 months and a 1.32% (95% CI, 1.14%-1.50%) volume decline per year compared with 24.0 cm(3) (95% CI, 20-28 cm(3)) for the placebo group during 18 months and a 1.29% (95% CI, 1.07%-1.51%) volume decline per year (P = .79).
- Conclusion Supplementation with DHA compared with placebo did not slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.
Why it matters
In this trial of 402 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, DHA supplementation did not slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline compared with placebo. Brain volume decline was also similar between the DHA and placebo groups.
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Study details
- Participants102
- Effect size1.32%; 1.14%; 1.50%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 80/100
Published in a top-tier journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (JAMA) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | JAMA: journal h-index 1,011 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized 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 | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 102 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 763 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 42.4 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 45.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 25 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 94 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Paul S. S Aisen: h-index 87 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Yale University: institution h-index 1,927 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21045096) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 80 / 100 | — |
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