From embryo to adulthood, polyunsaturated fatty acids are important for brain development and for reducing coginitive disorders.
At all ages, omega 3 and omega 6 protect the brain. This is what an article published in the journal shows Nature Reviews Neuroscience and which synthesizes the current state of knowledge. Omega 3 and omega 6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), sometimes also called essential fatty acids, which are found only in the diet: they are particularly present in fatty fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel) but also nut and soybean oils.
Impact on the immune system
The article shows that from the perinatal period, omega 3 and 6 are essential for the development and protection of the brain. Thus, “in laboratory animals, a deficiency of omega 3 during embryonic development and the lactation period alters the cerebral immune system and the plasticity of the brain”, explain the researchers, citing a study from the Nutrition and Neurobiology unit. Integrated (NutriNeuro) from Inra and the University of Bordeaux.
Researchers Sophie Layé, director of Inra at NutriNeuro and Richard Bazinet, professor at the University of Toronto, add that the intake of omega 3 and 6 must remain appropriate both during development and in adulthood, in order to ‘avoid deficiencies.
Effective fight against inflammation
Docosahéxaenoic acid (DHA) and archidonic acid (AA) are the main forms of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain. The authors point out that these lipids participate in the entry of glucose into the brain, the main energy source of this organ, and they are powerful modulators of neuroinflammation. They also have an important role in “neurogenesis (the process of creating neurons, editor’s note) and neuroprotection (the protection of neurons, editor’s note) ”.
Fatty acids improve memory
Finally, in the elderly, PUFAs have a key role in reducing cognitive disorders. Citing a 2012 study, the authors explain that “researchers from INRA and the University of Bordeaux have shown in elderly mice that a diet enriched with DHA in the brain reduces neuroinflammation and the occurrence of disorders cognitive (such as memory loss) ”.
Prevent the onset of depression
Aside from their involvement in neurotransmission or cell survival, PUFAs are also involved in the regulation of mood. Recent work carried out by researchers from the NutriNeuro unit deciphers “in mice how unbalanced food intake disturbs their emotional behavior”.
Scientists have shown that an omega 3 deficiency leads to a state of chronic stress and the development of anxious-type behavior, due to the modulation of the morphology of the prefrontal cortex. Their results are also a reminder of the importance of a diet rich in omega 3 to prevent the onset of depression. But in reality, the actual consumption intake is below half of the recommendations.
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