Fish Hydrolysate Supplementation Improves Episodic Memory in Older Adults: Study

Supplementation with a fish hydrolysate preparation containing low-molecular-weight peptides and a small amount of omega-3s was associated with improvements in measures of working memory in a population of older adults showing greater-than-average cognitive decline for their age in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study was conducted by Université de Bordeaux researchers and Abyss Ingredients, a French biotech company specializing in nutritional ingredients derived from marine byproducts.

In the study, 53 healthy older adults between the ages of 60 and 73 either received the fish hydrolysate supplement or a placebo for three months. Participants were assessed using the Cambridge Neurophysical Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and the Paired Associates Learning Total Error Adjusted (PALTEA) score, which assessed episodic memory.

Fish hydrolysate supplementation significantly improved PALTEA scores compared with placebo, with a greater level of completion and a reduced error rate at higher levels. Working memory also improved partially, the researchers noted. Fish hydrolysate supplementation increased erythrocyte omega-3 levels and reduced serum C-reactive protein levels and overall inflammation status, the authors noted.

“Interestingly, the higher level of complexity, the more efficient FH supplementation seemed to be because the FH group made significantly fewer errors with six patterns [compared to baseline], and eight patterns in comparison with the placebo … Indeed, participants selected based on reduced episodic memory performance on the PAL test, despite preserved global cognition and no memory complaints, showed a marked improvement in PALTEA, from 48.04 to 29.42, after FH supplementation…”

“FH supplementation may contribute to more favorable cognitive trajectories through complementary mechanisms involving memory consolidation and executive control,” the authors concluded, noting that further studies are needed to clarify long-term effects, mechanisms of action, and best supplementation strategies.