DHA (Not EPA) Linked to More Gray Matter in Older Japanese Women
This study looked at 527 older women in Japan, aged 60 to 85, to see whether blood levels of two common omega-3 fats—DHA and EPA—were related to brain volume. Researchers measured blood fatty acid levels and used MRI scans to assess total brain volume, gray matter, white matter, and hippocampal volume.
Women with higher blood levels of DHA tended to have larger gray matter volume, and this pattern held even after accounting for age, education, blood pressure, diabetes, physical activity, and other factors. EPA levels on their own were not linked to gray matter volume, and the combined EPA+DHA level showed only a weak trend in the same direction.
None of the omega-3 measures were linked to white matter, total brain volume, or hippocampal volume in this group. The researchers note that this is one of the few studies to compare DHA and EPA separately in a population with naturally high fish intake, like Japan.
What this means for you
This observational study suggests a possible link between higher DHA levels and larger gray matter volume in older women, but it cannot prove that DHA causes this difference or that taking DHA supplements would change brain volume—more research, including trials, would be needed to explore that question.
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The Journal of nutrition · 2026-07-25 · DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101747
Read the original source ↗This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.