DHA may improve memory and learning in older adults: Study
By ANITuesday, November 9, 2010
WASHINGTON - A new study has revealed that taking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may improve memory and learning in older adults with mild cognitive impairments.
The study found that DHA taken for six months improved memory and learning in healthy, older adults with mild memory complaints.
“Memory loss, dementia and the development of Alzheimer’s disease are prominent health concerns for older individuals. The more we learn about the valuable role DHA plays in supporting brain function, the more options aging Americans have towards managing cognitive decline,” said Duffy MacKay, vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).
“This study reinforces the principle that consumers will reap the most benefit from their DHA supplements-and many supplements-when they are taken over time and before a health concern is imminent,” continued MacKay.
“When included as a part of a proactive health regimen that includes a well-balanced diet, regular physical activity and routine visits with a healthcare professional, dietary supplements offer an important tool to help support many systems in the body, including memory and cognitive function.”
The MIDAS study was conducted in a total of 485 subjects, aged 55 and older with a subjective memory complaint and who met criteria for age-related cognitive decline.
According to CRN’s Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, those aged 55+ who take supplements, 13 percent reported they do so for “memory” and 39 percent for “healthy aging.”
The study is published in the November edition of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. (ANI)
