Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid and the most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain. Epidemiological studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acid consumption reduces Alzheimer disease risk and DHA modifies the expression of Alzheimer-like brain pathology in transgenic mouse models.

The most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain, DHA is enriched in synaptic fractions and is reduced in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease. Animal studies with transgenic mice demonstrated that oral intake of DHA reduces Alzheimer-like brain pathology.

An examinations with patients whether a supplementation with DHA slows cognitive and functional decline in individuals with Alzheimer disease could not give evidence of benefit of DHA supplementation. DHA did not slow the rate of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.

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