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The relationship between plasma free fatty acids, cognitive function and structural integrity of the brain in middle-aged healthy humans
- Source :
- Aging (Albany NY)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Impact Journals, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background: The cerebral composition of ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is believed to influence cognitive function and structural damage of the aging brain. However, existing data is inconsistent. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study explored the association between free plasma PUFA concentrations, cognitive function and brain structure atrophy in a well-characterized community-dwelling cohort of elderly individuals without stroke and dementia. Ten different fatty acids were analyzed in stored plasma samples from 391 non-demented elderly individuals by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Neuropsychiatric tests capturing memory, executive function and visuopractical skills were performed in all participants. Brain atrophy was assessed by MRI in a subset of 167 individuals. Results: Higher plasma concentrations of free ω-6 PUFAs (p = 0.042), and, in particular, linoleic acid (p = 0.01), were significantly associated with lower executive function. No significant association existed between ω-3 PUFA concentrations and cognitive functioning. The volume of the frontal lobes was inversely associated with ω-6 PUFAs, whereas ω-3 PUFAs were positively related with temporal lobe volumes. All associations did not withstand correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Our study suggests subtle effects of PUFA imbalances on cognition and brain structure. Yet the observed associations are weak and unlikely to be of clinical relevance. The brain regions that seem to be most sensitive to imbalances of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs are the frontal and temporal lobes.
- Subjects :
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
NCI-GC-MS
Aging
Linoleic acid
Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
Temporal lobe
memory
chemistry.chemical_compound
Atrophy
Cognition
Internal medicine
Fatty Acids, Omega-6
Fatty Acids, Omega-3
Medicine
Aging brain
Dementia
Humans
Prospective Studies
Stroke
cognitive function
Aged
Retrospective Studies
chemistry.chemical_classification
business.industry
PFBBr
Brain
free fatty acids
Cell Biology
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Endocrinology
chemistry
Female
business
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
Research Paper
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19454589
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 18
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Aging (Albany NY)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....93fcf4a58984d40c8a9bf2e5274df524