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Status of Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels in Aging and Consequences of Docosahexaenoic Acid Deficiency in Normal Brain

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Beneficial Effects of Fish Oil on Human Brain

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Agingis defined as a time-dependent progressive functional impairment process that leads to mortality. The most prominent characteristics of aging include the progressive loss of physiological capability, decrease in ability to respond adaptively to environmental stimuli, increased susceptibility to diseases, and increased mortality. These changes are translated into decrements in neuronal functioning accompanied by behavioral declines, such as decreases in motor and cognitive performance, in both humans and animals (Joseph et al., 2005). Thus, biological aging is a progressive, endogenous, irreversible, and deleterious and highly conserved process that can be modulated by diet, environment, and genes (Spindler 2005; Spindler and Dhahbi, 2007). Many theories have been advanced to explain aging, but the biological mechanisms that underlie aging are still unknown. Major theories of aging include increase in free radical-mediated oxidative stress and changes in gene expression (Harman, 1981; Helfand and Rogina, 2000; Hulbert et al., 2007).

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  1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 43210, Columbus, OH, USA

    Akhlaq A. Farooqui

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Farooqui, A.A. (2009). Status of Docosahexaenoic Acid Levels in Aging and Consequences of Docosahexaenoic Acid Deficiency in Normal Brain. In: Beneficial Effects of Fish Oil on Human Brain. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0543-7_6

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