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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychol.
Sec. Psychology of Aging
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1305570

Association Between Plasma Long-Chain n-3 Fatty Acids Concentrations and Cognitive Function: Findings from NHANES III

Provisionally accepted
Xiaojing Li Xiaojing Li 1Xing Chen Xing Chen 1Yueqin Tian Yueqin Tian 2Haidong Wu Haidong Wu 1Tong Wang Tong Wang 1*
  • 1 Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
  • 2 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: With increased life expectancy, cognitive decline has emerged as a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder.Objective: This study aimed to examine the correlation between concentrations of Plasma long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and cognitive performance in elderly Americans. Methods: Data were analyzed from older adults enrolled in two NHANES cycles. Participants completed four cognitive assessments, including the Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Linear regression and restricted cubic spline modeling examined associations between plasma LCPUFAs levels and cognitive test outcomes. Results: The cohort included 610 adults aged 69 years on average, 300 (49.2%) males and 310 (50.8%) females. The median LCPUFAs concentration was 309.4umol/L, with an interquartile range of 244.7-418.9umol/L. In unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear regression model analyses, circulating LCPUFAs exhibited significant positive correlations with DRT performance. No relationships were detected among those with chronic conditions (chronic heart failure, stroke, diabetes). A significant association between LCPUFAs levels and DRT scores was evident in males but not females. Conclusion: Plasma LCPUFAs concentrations were significantly associated with DRT performance in males free of chronic illnesses, including heart failure, stroke, and diabetes. KEYWORDS plasma long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, cognitive function, delayed recall test, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

    Keywords: plasma long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Cognitive Function, delayed recall test, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

    Received: 28 Oct 2023; Accepted: 15 Apr 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Li, Chen, Tian, Wu and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Tong Wang, Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, China

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