EndocrinologyResults From Trials Of DHA In Alzheimer's Disease And Age-Related Cognitive Decline
Results from two large studies using DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid, were
reported at the Alzheimer"s Association 2009 International Conference
on Alzheimer"s Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.
One of the trials was conducted by the Alzheimer"s Disease Cooperative
Study (ADCS) supported by the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the
second by Martek Biosciences Corporation. The NIA trial lasted 18 months and
was conducted in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer"s. Martek"s trial was
six months, and was conducted in healthy people to see its effect on "age
related cognitive decline" Both studies used Martek"s algal DHA.
The results of the ADCS trial show no evidence for benefit in the studied
population. The Martek trial showed a positive result on one test of memory
and learning, but that study was in healthy older adultswith mild memory
complaint, not people with Alzheimer"s or another dementia. The results need
confirmation.
"These two studies - and other recent Alzheimer"s therapy trials - raise
the possibility that treatments for Alzheimer"s must be given very early in
the disease for them to be truly effective," said William Thies, PhD, Chief
Medical & Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer"s Association. "For that to
happen, we need to get much better at early detection and diagnosis of
Alzheimer"s."
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid in the
brain. Previous animal studies and epidemiology in humans suggested that DHA
may be beneficial in people with Alzheimer"s.
The studies reported at ICAD 2009 were:
-- Joseph Quinn, et al - A clinical trial of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for the treatment of Alzheimer"s disease.
-- Karin Yurko-Mauro, et al - Results of the MIDAS Trial: Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Physiological and Safety Parameters in Age-Related Cognitive Decline.
The 2009 Alzheimer"s Association International Conference on Alzheimer"s
Disease (ICAD 2009) brings together more than 3,000 researchers from 70
countries to share groundbreaking research and information on the cause,
diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer"s disease and related
disorders. ICAD 2009 will be held in Vienna, Austria at Messe Wien Exhibition
and CongressCenter from July 11-16.
The Alzheimer"s Association is the leading voluntary health organization
in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate
Alzheimer"s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and
enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia
through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without
Alzheimer"s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
Alzheimer"s Association