Effects of a diet integration with an oily emulsion of DHA-phospholipids containing melatonin and tryptophan in elderly patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Age-related changes in nutritional status can play an important role in brain functioning. Specific nutrient deficiencies in the elderly may exacerbate pathological processes in the brain. Consequently, the potential of nutritional intervention to prevent or delay cognitive impairment and the development of dementia is an important topic. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has been performed in 25 elderly subjects (86 ± 6 years, 20 females, 5 males) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These subjects were randomly assigned to supplement their diet with either an oily emulsion of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-phospholipids containing melatonin and tryptophan (11 subjects) or a placebo (14-matched subjects) for 12 weeks. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the dietary supplement on cognition, by the assessment at the start and after 12 weeks of: (1) Orientation and other cognitive functions: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); (2) Short-term memory: digit, verbal, and spatial span (digit span; verbal span; Corsi's test); (3) Long-term memory: Rey's auditory-verbal learning test; 'short story' test; Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (recall); (4) Attentional abilities: attentive matrices; (5) Executive functions: Weigl's sorting test; phonological fluency 'FAS'; (6) Visuo-constructional and visuo-spatial abilities: copy of simple drawings; Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (copy); (7) Language: semantic fluency; (8) Mood: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Moreover, Sniffin' Sticks olfaction test and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) have been performed. After 12 weeks, a significant treatment effect for the MMSE (P < 0.001) and a positive trend for the semantic verbal fluency was found in the supplement group (P < 0.06). A significant treatment effect was found out for the olfactory sensitivity assessment (P < 0.009). As regards the nutrition evaluation, after 12 weeks of treatment the supplemented group showed an improvement in the MNA score with a significant difference relative to placebo (P < 0.005). Older adults with MCI had significant improvements in several measures of cognitive function when supplemented with an oily emulsion of DHA-phospholipids containing melatonin and tryptophan for 12 weeks, compared with the placebo.

Does Omega-3 supplementation after the age of 65 influence cognitive function? Results of a systematic review

“…[20][21][22][23] , y otro australiano 24 . Tres de ellos reclutaron participantes cognitivamente sanos 19,22,23 ; otros dos, pacientes con DCL 20,24 y uno pacientes con EA moderada 21 .…”

“…Tres de ellos reclutaron participantes cognitivamente sanos 19,22,23 ; otros dos, pacientes con DCL 20,24 y uno pacientes con EA moderada 21 . 21 , tres combinaron EPA y DHA en distintas dosis [22][23][24] , y otros dos estudios añadieron otras sustancias como fosfolípidos, vitamina E, triptófano y melatonina 20 o licopeno y Ginkgo biloba 19 . En cuanto a la mencionada heterogeneidad a la hora de medir la función cognitiva, un estudio empleó la incidencia de EA como medida categórica de resultado 19 y el resto utilizaron puntuaciones de tests y escalas (variables continuas).…”

“…En cuanto a la mencionada heterogeneidad a la hora de medir la función cognitiva, un estudio empleó la incidencia de EA como medida categórica de resultado 19 y el resto utilizaron puntuaciones de tests y escalas (variables continuas). Como medida de cognición general, dos usaron el Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) 20,21 , uno de ellos junto con el Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive ADAS COG 21 . Se emplearon también pruebas que evaluaron memoria y aprendizaje 20,[22][23][24] , lenguaje 20,23,24 , velocidad de percepción y procesamiento [22][23][24] , atención 20,23,24 , función ejecutiva 20,[22][23][24] , habilidades visoespaciales y perceptuales 20 , reconocimiento 24 y funcionalidad 21 .…”

An evidence-based method for examining and reporting cognitive processes in nutrition research

“…Trail making task composite score of A and B, Stroop task (37) ; finding A's task, digit vigilance, Stroop task (38) ; digit vigilance (24) ; RVIP (28) ; Stroop task (33) ; trail making part A and B (33) ; Stroop task, RVIP, serial 7 subtraction (31) ; Stroop task (32) ; serial 3 subtraction, serial 7 subtraction, RVIP, Stroop task (30) Reaction/decision speed Choice RT (38) ; simple RT, choice RT (24) ; Jensen's decision time two, four and eight choice (28) ; simple RT, two-choice RT, four-choice RT (31) ; simple RT, two-choice RT, four-choice RT (30) Quantitative knowledge -Reading/writing -Unclassified tests MMSE, attentive matrices (36) ; MMSE (29) are going to be statistically combined to create the broader factor. Simply adding task scores together can result in factors that are biased towards one particular cognitive test.…”

“…Weigl sorting test (36) , peg-and-ball task, Wisconsin card sort task (32) Comprehension knowledge -Visual processing Rey -Osterrieth complex figure (copy), Rey -Osterrieth complex figure (recall), copy of simple drawings (36) Auditory processing -Short-term memory Immediate word recall (28) ; immediate word recall, digits forward, digits backward, letter -number sequencing (37) ; immediate word recall, N-back, Corsi blocks span, letter -number sequencing (38) ; immediate word recall, spatial working memory, numeric working memory (24) ; memory of digits, memory of story, selective attention test (35) ; N-back (34) ; immediate word recall, digit span, verbal span, Corsi test (36) ; Corsi blocks task, N-back task, numeric working memory (31) ; N-back task (32) ; immediate free recall (33) ; immediate word recall, Corsi blocks task, N-back task, numeric working memory, alphabetic working memory, telephone number working memory task (30) Long-term storage/retrieval Delayed word recall, delayed recognition memory, verbal fluency, Boston naming task (37) ; delayed word recall, delayed word recognition, delayed picture recognition (38) ; delayed word recall, delayed picture recognition, delayed word recognition (24) ; delayed word recall (28) ; delayed word recall, short story test, phonological fluency, semantic fluency (36) ; delayed free recall (33) ; delayed word recall, delayed word recognition, delayed picture recognition, names-to-faces recall, verbal fluency (30) …”