Abstract

The brain and retina are rich in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs). Docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n-3; DHA) particularly has been shown to affect retinal and brain development in humans. Provision of n-3 LCPs in preterm and term babies is associated with enhanced retinal electrical responses to light stimuli and to a pattern of brain cortex-related visual acuity maturation that is similar to that observed in infants fed on human milk. Evidence supporting the potential importance of n-3 LCP consumption for good cognitive health in older age is also beginning to emerge. Cross-sectional and prospective data indicate that higher fatty fish and n-3 LCP consumption is associated with reduced risk of impaired cognitive function or dementia. The evidence suggests that n-3 LCPs act by inhibiting hepatic triglyceride synthesis as well as modulating eicosanoid function, inducing vascular relaxation, and diminishing inflammatory processes and platelet aggregation. This article reviews the role of LCPs in the brain during development and ageing, and the mechanisms that may explain the observed effects. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.