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Objectives: To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on quality of life (QOL)., Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial., Setting: Independently living individuals from the general older Dutch population., Participants: Three hundred two individuals aged 65 and older without depression or dementia., Intervention: 1,800 mg/d EPA-DHA (n=96), 400 mg/d EPA-DHA (n=100), or placebo capsules (n=106) for 26 weeks., Measurements: QOL was assessed using the short version of the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The WHOQOL-BREF covers four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and satisfaction with environment. The total score range is 26 to 130, with higher scores indicating a more favorable condition., Results: Mean age of the participants was 70, and 55% were male. Plasma concentrations of EPA-DHA increased 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose EPA-DHA group, reflecting excellent adherence. Median baseline total WHOQOL scores ranged from 107 to 110 in the three groups and were not significantly different from each other. After 26 weeks, the mean difference from placebo was -1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI)=-3.40-0.57) for the high-dose and 0.02 (95% CI=-1.95-1.99) for the low-dose fish oil group. Treatment with 1,800 mg or 400 mg EPA-DHA did not affect total QOL or any of the separate domains after 13 or 26 weeks of intervention., Conclusion: Supplementation with high or low doses of fish oil for 26 weeks did not influence the QOL of healthy older individuals.

Background. Cure of dementia is not possible, but quality of life of patients and caregivers can be improved. Our aim is to investigate effects of community occupational therapy on dementia patients' and caregivers' quality of life, mood, and health status and caregivers' sense of control over life. Methods. Community-dwelling patients aged 65 years or older, with mild-to-moderate dementia, and their informal caregivers (n = 135 couples of patients with their caregivers) were randomly assigned to 10 sessions of occupational therapy over 5 weeks or no intervention. Cognitive and behavioral interventions were used to train patients in the use of aids to compensate for cognitive decline and caregivers in coping behaviors and supervision. Outcomes, measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, were patients' and caregivers' quality of life (Dementia Quality of Life Instrument, Dqol), patients' mood (Comell Scale for Depression, CSD), caregivers' mood (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D), patients' and caregivers' health status (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12), and caregivers' sense of control over life (Mastery Scale). Results. Improvement on patients' Dqol overall (0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-.1, effect size 1.3) and caregivers' Dqol overall (0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-.9, effect size 1.2) was significantly better in the intervention group as compared to controls. Scores on other outcome measures also improved significantly. This improvement was still significant at 12 weeks. Conclusion. Community occupational therapy should be advocated both for dementia patients and their caregivers, because it improves their mood, quality of life, and health status and caregivers' sense of control over life. Effects were still present at follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]