SUPPLEMENTATION WITH OMEGA-3 IN PREVENTING COGNITIVE DECLINE AND DEMENTIA

Introduction and objective: Dementia is a significant global public health concern and there is a clear need to identify effective interventions to reduce or delay its onset. The aim of this review is to understand the effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids daily intake, in protecting cognitive decline and dementia development, in healthy subjects or with cognitive impairment no dementia. Method: We conducted a search, using evidence-based medicine websites and Medline database, to find clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomized controlled clinical trials, published between January, 2006 and June, 2016, in Portuguese, Spanish or English, using the MeSH terms “Fatty-acids, omega-3” and “Dementia”. To evaluate the levels of evidence and strength of recommendation, the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) scale of American Family Physician was used. Results and Conclusions: A total of 5 articles were selected out of 127 articles found. These included one systematic review, one meta-analysis and three randomized controlled clinical trials. The scientific evidence shows that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation doesn’t have benefits in protecting cognitive decline in healthy subjects (SORT A). For individuals with cognitive impairment no dementia, studies are not consensual, but there seems to be some benefit in some cognitive domains (SORT B). However, further studies, with longer duration of action, are needed to identify more significant changes in cognitive function and to detect possible efects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in people with cognitive impairment no dementia.