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# Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids better cognitive performance
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/omega-3_polyunsaturated_fatty_acids_1124121127/
- Published: 2012-11-25T00:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:12:48.000Z
- Description: Forty healthy adults aged 51 to 72 took 3 grams of fish oil daily for five weeks and did better on a working memory test than on placebo, with lower plasma triacylglycerides and systolic blood pressure, a Nutrition Journal trial reports.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Saturday Nov 24, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) supplements like fish oil can help cognitive performance or prevent cognitive decline, and lower cardiometabolic risk factors in healthy people, according to a new trial in Nutrition Journal.

A. Nilsson and colleagues each day gave 40 healthy participants aged 51 to 72 years 3 grams of fish oil which contains high amounts of long chain omega -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for 5 weeks and then stopped the supplementation for another five weeks as a washout period. Subjects were evaluated for their working memory and selective attention as cognitive performance.

The researchers found supplementation with n-3 PUFA was associated with better performance in the working memory test, compared with placebo.

Additionally, n-3 PUFA also significantly lowered plasma triacylglycerides and systolic blood pressure. And systolic blood pressure, f-glucose, and s-TNF-alpha were inversely associated with the performance in cognitive tests.

The researchers concluded "Intake of n-3 PUFA improved cognitive performance in healthy subjects after five weeks compared with placebo. In addition, inverse relations were obtained between cardiometabolic risk factors and cognitive performance, indicating a potential of dietary prevention strategies to delay onset of metabolic disorders and associated cognitive decline."

The study suggests that long chain omega-3 fatty acids supplements such as fish oil can help prevent cognitive decline.