ABSTRACT
Long-chain omega-3 (n − 3) fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have anti-inammatory, neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties. DHA accumulates in the brain during critical periods of perinatal cortical expansion and maturation. Reductions in perinatal rat brain DHA accrual are associated with delays in neuronal migration and arborization, synaptic pathology as well as neurocognitive decits and elevated behavioural indices of aggression and depression. Primates raised on an n − 3 fatty acid-decient diet exhibit hyperactivity, impairments in visual attention and functional connectivity decits within frontal cortical networks. Preterm delivery is associated with robust decits in fetal cortical DHA accrual and reduced connectivity within cortical networks. Children and adolescents born preterm are
Summary ................................................................................................................ 151 7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 152 7.2 Rodent Neurodevelopment............................................................................ 153
7.2.1 Glutamate .......................................................................................... 156 7.2.2 Acetylcholine .................................................................................... 157 7.2.3 Dopamine ......................................................................................... 158 7.2.4 Serotonin ........................................................................................... 159
7.3 Non-Human Primate Neurodevelopment ..................................................... 160 7.4 Human Neurodevelopment ........................................................................... 160 7.5 Cognitive and Emotional Pathology ............................................................. 165 7.6 Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................... 168 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ 170 References .............................................................................................................. 171
at increased risk for developing psychiatric disorders associated with functional connectivity decits within frontal cortical networks. Moreover, youth with cognitive and mood disorders exhibit reversible DHA decits associated with symptom severity. Maternal and infant formula DHA supplementation may be associated with better neurocognitive outcomes in healthy developing children though this remains controversial. While these associations provide general support for a role of DHA in the maturation of cortical networks mediating cognitive and emotional processes, additional prospective longitudinal studies are needed to inform optimal intake levels during critical periods of neurodevelopment.
