Revealing the Brain-Protecting Power of DHA Omega-3 Fatty Acids
If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the vitamin aisle, mesmerized by the array of supplements that promise to boost your health, you’re not alone. The world of health supplements can be a labyrinth, but one stands out in terms of power, simplicity, and great results: Omega-3 fatty acids.
There is one amazing Omega-3 fatty acid that takes the lead when it comes to brain health, and that is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). New studies are now thrusting DHA into greater attention, suggesting that it may be the key to unlocking cognitive potential and counteract the decline associated with aging and dementia.
In this article, I want to review the fascinating research, explore the science behind the claims and shed light on why Omega-3 should be in your health regimen.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A Brain Health Ally
Omega-3 fatty acids, mainly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are the unsung heroes of brain health. They play important roles in brain physiology and biological activities, increasing neuronal membrane fluidity, improving cerebral blood flow, reducing inflammation, and slowing the destruction of nerve tissues.
Recent studies have begun to piece together the Omega-3 puzzle, revealing exciting links between Omega-3 levels and cognitive function. For example, research has shown that Omega-3s are associated with reduced cognitive decline in normal aging and may benefit memory and language functions—areas that are severely affected by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).
But the Omega-3 magic doesn’t stop there. Higher levels of DHA have also been shown to reduce volume loss in the hippocampus, the brain region critical for learning and memory. These fatty acids are also important for maintaining the integrity of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB), the brain’s security system, which controls what enters and leaves your brain.
Navigating the Blood-Brain Barrier
The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable barrier that separates circulating blood from the brain and extracellular fluid in the central nervous system. It acts like a security guard at a nightclub, allowing only specific molecules to enter and exit the brain.
Disruption of this critical system can lead to inflammation, which can lead to cognitive impairment and various neurological disorders. The good news is that Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the BBB, adding to the brain health-boosting properties of DHA.
Squid (Calami) Oil – the highest source of DHA, the brain protecting Omega 3
The source of your Omega-3 is important. Not all Omega-3 supplements are created equal, and the differences can greatly affect your and your dog’s brain health.
Squid oil also boasts the highest DHA content of all marine sources. In addition, squid oil is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than fish oil, because squid grow quickly, multiply in abundance, are not overfished, and their population is increasing due to the decrease in the fish population, it is a natural predator.
Navigating the later stages of life and watching our dogs do the same can raise concerns about cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. We have all experienced this worry to some extent, for ourselves, our loved ones, or our elderly pets.
Science shows that cognitive decline is inevitable, and DHA is a shining star in brain health. By choosing an Omega-3 supplement derived from squid, you are taking an important step toward protecting your or your dog’s brain and making a sustainable choice for the planet.
I feel encouraged by knowing the difference DHA can make in the lives affected by cognitive decline—yours, your loved ones’, and your pets’. It’s so exciting to have a safe, simple natural, science-backed solution to support brain health!
Sources:
- Bazinet, RP, & Layé, S. (2014). Polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites in brain function and disease. Nature Neuroscience Reviews, 15(12), 771–785. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3820
- Dyall, SC (2015). Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 7, 52. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00052
- Yurko-Mauro, K., Alexander, DD, & Van Elswyk, ME (2015). Docosahexaenoic acid and adult memory: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 10(3), e0120391. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120391
- Zhang, Y., Chen, J., Qiu, J., Li, Y., Wang, J., & Jiao, J. (2016). Intakes of fish and polyunsaturated fatty acids and mild-to-severe cognitive impairment risks: a dose-response meta-analysis of 21 cohort studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(2), 330–340. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.115.124081
- Pifferi, F., Roux, F., Langelier, B., Alessandri, JM, Vancassel, S., Jouin, M., Lavialle, M., & Guesnet, P. (2005). (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency reduces the expression of both isoforms of the brain glucose transporter GLUT1 in mice. The Journal of Nutrition, 135(9), 2241–2246. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/135.9.2241
- Abbott, NJ, Rönnbäck, L., & Hansson, E. (2006). Astrocyte-endothelial interactions at the blood-brain barrier. Nature Neuroscience Reviews, 7(1), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1824
- Pan, Y., Khalil, H., and Nicolazzo, JA (2019). The Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Alzheimer’s Disease: Does the Blood-Brain Barrier Play a Role?. Current Clinical Pharmacology, 14(2), 97-104. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26338174/
