Improving Rodent Brain Function

A new study addresses the link betwen omega-3 acidss and brain function, in this case in gerbils.

These studies show that oral supplementation with DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, increases dendritic spine density in adult gerbil hippocampus...). This effect of DHA is approximately doubled when animals also receive [uridine-5â²-monophosphate] and is accompanied by parallel increases in membrane phosphatides and in specific pre- and post-synaptic proteins. Supplementation with arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 fatty acid, fails to increase spine density....

What does this mean?

Amyloid beta plaques are folded up proteins that are probably linked to Alzheimer's disease. These misshapen proteins have been the target of a great deal of research with very little in the way of results. According to Richard Wurtman, co-author of this paper, "It's been very frustrating ... Nobody has demonstrated that if you prevent formation of the amyloid, people get better."

The current paper takes an entirely different approach to promoting neural regeneration. The research reported here seems to suggest that the aforementioned mix of compounds, including DHA omega-3 fatty acid, uridine and choline increases the concentration of dentrites in target neurons, which could lead to increased neural connections or restoration of connections lost during degenration associated with disease. If this method works, it could affect Alzheimer's patients as well as those with brain injury or Parkinson's.

Essentially, rats in different groups were given various mixtures including one of the three suspect compounds, or all three. The rats that recieved all three showed the most change. At present, there are clinical studies underway to examine this treatment, in Europe, according to an MIT press release.

SAKAMOTO, T. CANSEV, M. WURTMAN, R.J. (2007): Oral supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid and uridine-5'-monophosphate increases dendritic spine density in adult gerbil hippocampus. Brain Research, 1182, 50-59; doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.08.089 .