MIDAS Study Strengthens Case for DHA and Cognitive Function

Nutritional Outlook first reported on the results of the “Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic Acid Study” (MIDAS) back in June 2010, but it’s inclusion in the November issue of Alzheimer’s and Dementia has more eyes taking notice.

The MIDAS study, funded by Martek Biosciences (Columbia, MD), placed 485 subjects on 900 mg of DHA or placebo daily for six months. DHA supplementation was associated with memory improvements "roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger," according to Martek.

Industry members are lauding the recent publication of MIDAS, especially in light of a study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which offered less satisfactory results on cognitive health and DHA.

The JAMA study may have provided DHA too late in cognitive decline, according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, Duffy MacKay, ND.

“[The Alzheimer’s and Dementia study] reinforces the principle that consumers will reap the most benefit from their DHA supplements-and many supplements-when they are taken over time and before a health concern is imminent,” said MacKay.