Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulate Large-Scale Systems Organization in the Rhesus Macaque Brain

Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy brain and retinal development and have been implicated in a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. This study used resting-state functional connectivity MRI to define the large-scale organization of the rhesus macaque brain and changes associated with differences in lifetime -3 fatty acid intake. Monkeys fed docosahexaenoic acid, the long-chain -3 fatty acid abundant in neural membranes, had cortical modular organization resembling the healthy human brain. In contrast, those with low levels of dietary -3 fatty acids had decreased functional connectivity within the early visual pathway and throughout higher-order associational cortex and showed impairment of distributed cortical networks. Our findings illustrate the similarity in modular cortical organization between the healthy human and macaque brain and support the notion that -3 fatty acids play a crucial role in developing and/or maintaining distributed, large-scale brain systems, including those essential for normal cognitive function.

Impact of Maternal n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Deficiency on Dendritic Arbor Morphology and Connectivity of DevelopingXenopus laevisCentral NeuronsIn Vivo

“…During embryonic development, DHA accumulates in the CNS, and it can be supplied from the mother through the diet together with its precursors, ␣-linoleic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) (Gil-Sánchez et al, 2010). Further, DHA and its metabolites are known to help in maintaining proper neuronal function (Gó mez-Pinilla, 2008;Wu et al, 2008;Bazan et al, 2011). Epidemiological studies have suggested that an imbalance in n-3 PUFA levels is associated with childhood cognitive disorders, such as attention-deflect hyperactivity disorder and autism (Schuchardt et al, 2010).…”

“…Epidemiological studies have suggested that an imbalance in n-3 PUFA levels is associated with childhood cognitive disorders, such as attention-deflect hyperactivity disorder and autism (Schuchardt et al, 2010). In addition, clinical trials have reported that DHA supplementation improves later cognitive development in infants (Willatts et al, 1998a, b;Birch et al, 2000). Therefore, n-3 PUFA levels are thought to be critical for neuronal development in early embryonic and postnatal life.…”

“…Findings indicate that n-3 PUFA, especially DHA, can induce biological and morphological and synaptic changes, and this may lead to behavioral and functional changes (Yoshida et al, 1997;Ahmad et al, 2002aAhmad et al, , 2002bCalderon and Kim, 2004;Igarashi et al, 2007b;Cansev et al, 2009;Cao et al, 2009). Despite this knowledge, however, the function of n-3 PUFA during early neuronal development in the intact brain remained to be elucidated.…”

“…This species seldom has been used in nutritional studies even though the maternal diet can modify nutrients in yolk that are transferred to the progeny within the oocyte (Fort et al, 1999), and development can be easily studied from the time of fertilization to well after functional neural circuits form. Here, we combined nutritional studies with in vivo imaging techniques in Xenopus laevis to understand effects of n-3 PUFA deficiency on neuronal development.…”

Large-scale topology and the default mode network in the mouse connectome

“…Perhaps more important is the finding of conservation in brain topology and default network among rodents and primates, thereby clearing the way for a bridge measurement between human and mouse models. 9,28). In addition, strength of functional connectivity in this system has been tied to several neurologic and psychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among others (29).…”