Good fats, bad fats, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cognition in the elderly

摘要

Dietary fat may have an important influence on the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly, but it is inappropriate to categorize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as "good" fats, with no reference to the fact that they comprise 2 clearly distinct families: omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA. Insufficient fish or omega-3 PUFA intake is predictive of cognitive decline in the elderly, but no such relationship has been reported for omega-6 PUFA intake. Indeed, at the levels presently consumed in the USA, some argue linoleic acid is actually a "bad" fat.