Docosahexaenoic Acid and Adult Memory: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Karin Yurko‐Mauro; Alexander, Dominik D.; Van Elswyk, Mary E. · 2015 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120391

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Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alone or combined with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), on specific memory domains in healthy adults. Motivated by the prevalence of subjective memory complaints in aging and inconsistent results from prior meta-analyses that relied on composite scores, the authors aimed to clarify DHA’s impact on episodic, semantic, and working memory. The study also sought to summarize observational epidemiologic literature regarding DHA/EPA intake and memory function. The researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search of Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through January 2013, supplemented by publication alerts through July 2013. Eligibility criteria included clinical trials and observational studies of healthy adults (aged 18+) with or without mild memory complaints (MMC), excluding those with neurologic diseases or dementia. Neuropsychological tests were classified into episodic, semantic, or working memory categories. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed on 15 intervention studies (62 data points) to calculate weighted group mean differences and Hedge’s g statistics. Subgroup analyses evaluated effects based on baseline cognitive status, age (above or below 45 years), and dose levels (above or below 1 g/day). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool, and publication bias was evaluated via funnel plots and Egger’s regression. The meta-analysis revealed that DHA/EPA supplementation significantly improved episodic memory in adults with mild memory complaints (P<0.004). Regardless of baseline cognitive status, a daily intake of greater than 1 g of DHA/EPA significantly improved episodic memory (P<0.04). Immediate recall, a specific test of episodic memory, was also significantly improved in adults with MMC (P<0.012). Post-hoc analyses indicated that DHA intake above the mean studied level (580 mg/day) significantly improved episodic memory in all subjects (P<0.009) and those with MMC (P<0.019), with effects largely driven by doses between 501–999 mg/day. In contrast, no significant between-group differences were detected for semantic or working memory, although within-group changes from baseline were significant for DHA supplementation. Observational studies reviewed supported a beneficial association between DHA/EPA intake or blood levels and memory function in older adults. The study concludes that DHA, alone or combined with EPA, contributes to improved memory function, specifically episodic memory, in older adults with mild memory complaints. The findings suggest that higher doses (>1 g/day) are particularly effective for episodic memory improvement regardless of baseline status. This research provides evidence that DHA supplementation may help mitigate age-related declines in specific memory domains, distinguishing its effects from general cognitive outcomes.

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• cognitive impairment