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Omega‐3 fatty acids and neurocognitive ability in young people at ultra‐high risk for psychosis
Author(s) -
McLaverty Alison,
Allott Kelly A.,
Berger Maximus,
Hester Rob,
McGorry Patrick D.,
Nelson Barnaby,
Markulev Connie,
Yuen Hok Pan,
Schäfer Miriam R.,
Mossaheb Nilufar,
Schlögelhofer Monika,
Smesny Stefan,
Hickie Ian B.,
Berger Gregor Emanuel,
Chen Eric Y. H.,
Haan Lieuwe,
Nieman Dorien H.,
Nordentoft Merete,
RiecherRössler Anita,
Verma Swapna,
Thompson Andrew,
Yung Alison Ruth,
Amminger G. Paul
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.13025
Subject(s) - neurocognitive , psychosis , psychology , at risk mental state , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , medicine , clinical psychology , cognition
Abstract Background Neurocognitive impairments are core early features of psychosis and are observed in those at ultra‐high risk (UHR) for psychosis. The aim of the present study was to explore whether neurocognition is associated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as has been observed in other clinical populations. Method Erythrocyte levels of total omega‐3‐and omega‐6 PUFAs the omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio, were measured in 265 UHR individuals. Six domains of neurocognition as well a Composite Score, were assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the relationship between PUFAs and neurocognition. All analyses were controlled for tobacco smoking. Results Verbal Fluency correlated positively with eicosapentaenoic acid ( P = .024) and alpha‐linolenic acid ( P = .01), and negatively with docosahexanoic acid ( P = .007) and Working Memory positively correlated with omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio ( P = .007). Conclusions The current results provide support for a relationship between Verbal Fluency and omega‐3 PUFAs in UHR. Further investigation is required to elucidate whether these biomarkers are useful as risk markers or in understanding the biological underpinning of neurocognitive impairment in this population.