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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid obtained primarily through fish consumption or metabolized in very small quantities from plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid. DHA is the primary lipid in the brain and is essential for the structural and functional maintenance of neuronal membranes. There is evidence that DHA decreases in the aging brain, particularly in people with Alzheimer disease, perhaps through increased oxidation of lipid membranes. Dietary intake of DHA can increase brain levels.
To test the effect of DHA supplementation on dementia progression, researchers randomized 402 individuals with mild-to-moderate AD to take DHA supplements (2 g/day) or placebo for 18 months. Estimated DHA intake at baseline was 89 mg per day…