Fish consumption and cognitive decline with age in a large community study

Title:
Author(s): Morris MC, Evans DA, Tangney CC, Bienias JL, Wilson RS
Source: ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY 62 (12): 1849-1853 DEC 2005
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Abstract: Background: Dietary intake of fish and the w-3 fatty acids have been associated with lower risk of Alzheimer disease and stroke.
Objective: To examine whether intakes of fish and the w-3 fatty acids protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Geographically defined Chicago, Ill, community

Participants: Residents, 65 years and older, who participated in the Chicago Health and Aging Project.

Main Outcome Measure: Change in a global cognitive score estimated from mixed models. The global score was computed by summing scores of 4 standardized tests. In-home cognitive assessments were performed 3 times over 6 years of follow-up.

Results: Cognitive scores declined on average at a rate of 0.04 standardized units per year (SU/y). Fish intake was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline in mixed models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, cognitive activity, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and total energy intake. Compared with a decline rate in score of -0.100 SU/y among persons who consumed fish less than weekly, the rate was 10% slower (-0.090 SU/y) among persons who consumed I fish meal per week and 13% slower (-0.088 SU/y) among persons who consumed 2 or more fish meals per week. The fish association was not accounted for by cardiovascular-related conditions or fruit and vegetable consumption but was modified after adjustment for intakes of saturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fats. There was little evidence that the w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were associated with cognitive change.

Conclusions: Fish consumption may be associated with slower cognitive decline with age. Further study is needed to determine whether fat composition is the relevant dietary constituent.

KeyWords Plus: FATTY-ACID-COMPOSITION; INCIDENT ALZHEIMER-DISEASE; DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID; LEARNING-ABILITY; MAZE BEHAVIOR; RISK; STROKE; BRAIN; MICE; POPULATION
Addresses: Morris MC (reprint author), Rush Univ, Rush Inst Healthy Aging, Ctr Med, 1645 W Jackson,Suite 675, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Rush Inst Healthy Aging, Ctr Med, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Internal Med, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Prevent Med, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Clin Nutr, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Neurol Sci, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Psychol, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Rush Univ, Med Ctr, Rush Alzheimers Dis Ctr, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
E-mail Addresses: [email protected]

Publisher: AMER MEDICAL ASSOC, 515 N STATE ST, CHICAGO, IL 60610-0946 USA, http://www.ama-assn.org