Fish oil doesn't improve cognitive function in the elderly

In a study that is good news for endangered fish stocks, a team in The Netherlands have found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation do not improve cognitive performance in the elderly.

They investigated the effect in a double-blind placebo controlled trial involving 302 cognitively healthy individuals aged 65 and older for 26 weeks. Cognitive performance was assessed using an extensive neuropsychological test battery that included the cognitive domains of attention, sensorimotor speed, memory, and executive function.

The mean age of the participants was 70 years, and 55% were male. Plasma concentrations of EPA-DHA increased by 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose fish oil group compared with placebo, reflecting excellent compliance. Baseline scores on the cognitive tests were comparable in the three groups. Overall, there were no significant differential changes in any of the cognitive domains for either low-dose or high-dose fish oil supplementation compared with placebo.