"The concern with this study is that it focused on supplementing DHA in individuals who were currently coping with Alzheimers disease. It didn't answer the question of whether DHA taken over long periods of time and several years prior to disease onset could have helped prevent these participants from developing the disease," said Duffy MacKay, N.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. "Further, the study only tested DHA under the assumption that it could be used as a treatment, which is highly unlikely given how little we know about Alzheimers disease. There is still much to be learned about the potential of DHAand all omega-3 fatty acidsand the many health benefits they offer consumers."
Results from the study are in conflict with results from previous studies, which have suggested that DHA supplementation for longer periods of time often in conjunction with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation and prior to the onset of cognitive decline might help reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease. Previous studies on the benefits of DHA have also demonstrated its importance in providing essential building blocks for brain tissue, helping maintain normal metabolism and eicosanoid production, and supporting heart and eye health.