Plasma long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe
Abstract
Objective:
The long-chain ω-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are potential candidates for interventions to delay Alzheimer disease (AD), but evidence from clinical studies is mixed. We aimed at determining whether plasma levels of EPA or DHA predict atrophy of medial temporal lobe (MTL) gray matter regions in older subjects.
Methods:
A total of 281 community dwellers from the Three-City Study, aged 65 years or older, had plasma fatty acid measurements at baseline and underwent MRI examinations at baseline and at 4 years. We studied the association between plasma EPA and DHA and MTL gray matter volume change at 4 years.
Results:
Higher plasma EPA, but not DHA, was associated with lower gray matter atrophy of the right hippocampal/parahippocampal area and of the right amygdala (p < 0.05, familywise error corrected). Based on a mean right amygdala volume loss of 6.0 mm3/y (0.6%), a 1 SD higher plasma EPA (+0.64% of total plasma fatty acids) at baseline was related to a 1.3 mm3 smaller gray matter loss per year in the right amygdala. Higher atrophy of the right amygdala was associated with greater 4-year decline in semantic memory performances and more depressive symptoms.
Conclusion:
The amygdala, which develops neuropathology in the early stage of AD and is involved in the pathogenesis of depression, may be an important brain structure involved in the association between EPA and cognitive decline and depressive symptoms.
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Supplementary Material
Study Funding
The 3C study is conducted under a partnership agreement between Sanofi-Aventis and the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and the Institut de Santé Publique et Développement of the Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University. The Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) funded the preparation and initiation of the study. The 3C study is also supported by the Caisse Nationale Maladie des Travailleurs Salariés (CNAMTS), Direction Générale de la Santé (DGS), Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN), Institut de la Longévité, Regional Councils of Aquitaine and Bourgogne, Fondation de France, and Ministry of Research–INSERM Programme “Cohortes et collections de données biologiques.” Fatty acid analyses performed by E. Peuchant were sponsored by the Conseil Régional d'Aquitaine. Dr Samieri was on a grant from the Ligue Européenne contre la Maladie d'Alzheimer (LECMA). Dr Proust-Lima received research support from ANR grant PRSP00601. The Canada Research Chairs, CFI, FRSQ, and CIHR, financed S.C.C.'s contribution to this paper. The study sponsors funded the preparation and initiation of the 3C study, as well as the data collection. They did not interfere in analysis and interpretation of the data, in writing the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
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Copyright © 2012 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Publication History
Received: November 17, 2011
Accepted: March 21, 2012
Published online: August 1, 2012
Published in print: August 14, 2012
Disclosure
C. Samieri, P. Maillard, F. Crivello, C. Proust-Lima, E. Peuchant, and C. Helmer report no disclosures. H. Amieva received speaker honoraria from GSK, UCB, and Novartis. M. Allard reports no disclosures. J.F. Dartigues reports research grants from Ipsen and Novartis, and speaker honoraria from Ipsen, Novartis, and Merck Serono. S.C. Cunnane and B. Mazoyer report no disclosures. P. Barberger-Gateau served on a scientific advisory board for Caisse Nationale pour la Solidarit é et l'Autonomie (CNSA); has received funding for travel and speaker honoraria from Lesieur, Bausch & Lomb, Aprifel, Danone Institute, Canadian Association of Gerontology, and the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University; has received consultancy fees from Vifor Pharma; and receives research support from Lesieur, Danone, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Conseil Régional d'Aquitaine, Institut Carnot LISA, and Groupe Lipides et Nutrition. Go to Neurology.org for full disclosures.
Authors
Author Contributions
C. Samieri performed statistical analyses and wrote the manuscript. P. Maillard performed SPM analyses and helped to write the manuscript. F. Crivello contributed to data collection and provided significant advice. C. Proust-Lima contributed to statistical analyses and provided significant advice. E. Peuchant contributed to determining plasma fatty acid proportions. C. Helmer contributed to experiment design, data collection, and provided significant advice. H. Amieva contributed to data collection and provided significant advice. M. Allard contributed to experiment design, data collection, obtained funding, and provided significant advice. J.F. Dartigues contributed to experiment design, data collection, obtained funding, and provided significant advice. S.C. Cunnane helped to write and revise the manuscript and provided significant advice. B. Mazoyer contributed to experiment design, data collection, obtained funding, and provided significant advice. P. Barberger-Gateau contributed to experiment design, data collection, obtained funding, helped to write the manuscript, and provided significant advice. All the authors read the draft critically. C. Samieri had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.
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