Powerful New Research On Attention Span And Brain Health

Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to improvements in heart health, brain health, and eye health,

One of the omega-3s, DHA, has been linked to increased concentrations in the brain, which may have the ability to improve brain development in infants as well as young children.

One reason for the improvements, research suggests, is a higher concentration of DHA found in the gray matter of the brain.

Higher concentrations of DHA in gray matter have been shown to regulate specific brain functions, such as improved cortical metabolic and cognitive symptoms.

However, little research has been done on omega-3 fatty acids and cortical functioning in humans.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition could provide insight into how omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can improve cognitive function in young children, especially boys.

Let me explain…

Omega-3 and Cognitive Performance In Young Boys

Researchers wanted to test to see the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and brain activity during sustained attention tests in boys.

They recruited 33 healthy boys between the ages of 8 and 10.

They were given either a placebo or one of two different DHA dosages (low and high dose) for eight weeks.

It was noted that after eight weeks, erythrocyte membrane concentration of DHA was greatly increased in both the low and high dose group.

In fact, the low dose group showed a 47% increase, and the high dose group showed a 70% increase in erythrocyte membrane DHA concentration.

However, it was decreased by 11% in the placebo group.

During sustained attention testing, both DHA groups showed increased activation and changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, research shows, is one of the highest areas in the brain responsible for planning, organization, and regulation.

It is also an area responsible for intellectual function and action, and it also aids in memory.

The researchers also noticed a decrease in both the occipital and cerebellar cortex, with the higher dose showing a greater decrease in both areas.

The researchers concluded that dietary DHA supplementation, in combination with increased erythrocyte DHA concentration, could be associated with positive changes in the functional activity in areas of the brain during sustained attention testing in young healthy boys.

Omega-3 and Brain Health

DHA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, has been shown to be a vital nutrient in the development of the brain during pregnancy, fetal development, and beyond.

It has been shown that in the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain consumes high amounts of DHA for normal brain and neuron development.

Now, however, research proves that DHA is effective at improving attention in young boys (ages 8-10).

This could further prove the importance of including omega-3 fatty acids into your daily routine as a way to improve brain and cognitive health.


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References:

McNamara, R.  Able, J.  Jandacek, R.  Rider, T.  Tso, P.  Eliassen, J.  Alfieri, D.  Weber, W.  Jarvis, K.  DelBello, M.  Strakowski, S. Adler, C.  Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation increases prefrontal cotrex activation during sustained attention in healthy boys: a placebo-controlled, doe-ranging, functional magnetic resonance imaging study.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2010. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28549.