Project

The proportion of elderly Canadians is rising significantly over next 20-30 years and with aging comes a higher prevalence of cognitive decline. Those carrying the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein (ApoE4) are at higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To counteract the higher risk of AD, development of effective dietary strategies are crucial, including higher fish intake providing eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. However, ApoE4 carriers seem not to be protected against cognitive decline when consuming fish, possibly because of altered EPA and DHA metabolism. We propose to study EPA and DHA metabolism in carriers and non-carriers of ApoE4 with mild cognitive impairment, a preliminary stage of AD. Our aim is to establish whether there is link between cognitive status and metabolism of EPA and DHA, and to evaluate whether ApoE4 genotype modulates this link. This study should help provide a foundation for understanding for at least important gene-by-diet interaction affecting EPA and DHA metabolism, and will help in the development of both public health and clinical intervention strategies aiming to reduce risk of cognitive decline in the elderly.