Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) helps to promote optimal functioning of the brain and safeguards against mental decline. DHA provides important structural and functional roles in the brain.

As a structural component, significant amounts of DHA are incorporated into the cellular membranes of the neurons (the brain cells). Adequate levels of DHA ensure the fluidity of the membrane, which is necessary for healthy neuron and synapse functioning. Further roles of DHA include neuron protection, enhanced cognition, and the amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases.  

• Maintains the health of the neuron
  cell membranes.  
  As a significant component of the neuron membrane, DHA maintains membrane fluidity of the neurons in the brain and helps preserve essential cellular signaling and synaptic functioning. Neuron membrane fluidity is important for the flexibility and elasticity of the membrane.
• DHA also enhances the semi-permeable nature of neuron membrane, which allows for the selective movement of molecules into and out of the neuron.
• Synthesis of phosphatidylserine, a major phospholipid composing the neuron membrane, is increased by DHA supplementation. Higher levels of phosphatidylserine enhances the survivability of the neuron.
• Improves synaptic and neurotransmitter functioning.  The synapse is the point at which neurotransmitters are released for communications between neurons in the brain. An increase in the rigidity of the neuron membrane due to aging is believed to be responsible for synaptic dysfunction and a decrease in neurotransmitter release. In lab studies using aged rats, supplementation with DHA restored levels of neurotransmitters and reversed cognitive declines in the older rats. DHA also increases the number of synapses which further enhances cognition.
• Promotes memory enhancing neurite (dendritic) growth. Longer dendritic outgrowths from the neurons in the hippocampus are associated with improved learning and memory. DHA has been shown to promote neurite growth in animal laboratory studies.
• Reduces inflammatory processes. DHA inhibits specific pathways associated with the generation of proinflammatory compounds. Inflammation can be very detrimental to the body, and is the key indicator of all brain degenerative diseases.
• Affords neuron cell integrity and protection. Brain and retinal cells are protected from cellular death by a cellular preservation molecule derived from DHA. This product of DHA metabolism is known as neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), and plays an important role in neuron cell protection. Alzheimer’s patients show significant declines in the NPD1 levels in the hippocampus region of the brain.
• Memory and learning. Because DHA is such a significant contributor to the functional composition of the brain, it has been shown that deficiencies may lead to cognitive impairment. In animal studies, those animals with diets deficient in DHA resulted in impaired memory and learning. Dietary supplementation of DHA to deficient animals has been shown to reverse much of impairment in memory and learning, even in adult and aged animals.

 

 

 

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