Evidence supporting the use of: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
For the health condition: Memory and Brain Function

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that is a major structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. Its role in supporting memory and brain function is primarily justified by scientific research, though the strength of the evidence is moderate, not definitive. Numerous observational studies have found that higher DHA levels in blood and diet are associated with better cognitive function across the lifespan, from infants to older adults. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supplementing DHA in infants (through maternal intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding) have shown benefits for cognitive and visual development. In adults, some RCTs suggest DHA supplementation may help slow cognitive decline in those with mild memory complaints or age-related cognitive impairment, though results in healthy adults are mixed and effects are generally modest. Mechanistically, DHA is vital for neuronal membrane fluidity, neurotransmission, and anti-inflammatory processes in the brain. Major health organizations recognize DHA as important for brain health, particularly in early development. However, evidence for DHA supplementation improving memory in healthy adults or preventing dementia is less robust, leading to a moderate evidence rating. Overall, while not a cure, DHA is scientifically validated as a supportive nutrient for brain structure and function, especially during developmental and aging periods, though further research is needed to clarify its efficacy in specific cognitive disorders.

More about DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
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Other ingredients used for Memory and Brain Function

2'-Fucosyllactose
Acai berry
Acetyl L-carnitine
algal oil
alpha-pinene
amino acids
anchovies
anthocyanins
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
Waterhyssop
beet
berry flavor
beta caryophyllene
Bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
black currant
black garlic
sesame
black tea
blackberry
blueberry
Indian frankincense
broccoli
caprylic acid
catechins
caterpillar mushroom
chaga mushroom
Chinese salvia root
choline
cinnamon
citicoline
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coffee fruit
cordyceps
creatine monohydrate
turmeric
curcumin
d-alpha tocopherol
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fisetin
fish protein
folate
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fruit blend (proprietary)
ginkgo biloba
glycerophosphocholine (GPC)
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
green tea
guarana
guayusa
hesperetin
huperzine A
inositol
jujube
kale
krill oil
kudzu
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
l-carnitine
L-carnosine
L-serine
L-taurine
L-theanine
l-tyrosine
Lactobacillus reuteri
lecithin
lion's mane
lutein
luteolin
maca
mackerel
Marine lipid
Matcha
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Moringa
Muira puama
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Naringin
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
oat
oleic acid
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
ophiopogon root
perilla
phosphatidylcholine
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
pollen
polygala root
pomegranate
pregnenolone
prolyl endopeptidase (PEP)
pumpkin
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
quail egg
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Rhodiola
rutin
saffron
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sardines
selenium
black ginger
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spinach
spirulina
strawberry
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Threonic acid
tocotrienols
tomato
Trans-pterostilbene
Almond fruit
ubiquinol
Urolithin A
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
velvet bean
Vinpocetine
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
seaweed
Mulberry
Zinc
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)
suma
jiaogulan
Tinospora cordifolia
lingzhi
Morus
root tuber
ferulic acid
chrysanthemum
cistanche
lotus seed
royal jelly
terpene lactones
purslane
Yerba mate
biota seed
goji berry
Algae
cocoa
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
ashitaba
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
arachidonic acid
apigenin
Aronia melanocarpa
anserine
Alpha glyceryl
andrographolide
avocado
Agmatine
Acetylcholine
amentoflavone
Agarwood
Acacetin
alpha-lipoic acid
anthocyanidins
ampelopsin
Acer truncatum
aniracetam
anthocyanosides
black seed
bilobalide
butylphthalide
beta-hydroxybutyrate
breadnut
Blepharis
Beef liver
baccosides
Bacopin
baicalein
Basidiomycota
Boswellia
brahmi
Bacopa
Blue-Green Alage
Bifidobacteria
bacoside
baicalin
bird\'s nest
centrophenoxine
Camellia sinensis
Centella triterpenes
Chinese mountain ant
cyanobacteria
Carnosine
catalpol
chebulic acid
cod liver oil
Codonopsis
cyanidin
cruciferous
Centella asiatica
cinnamic acid
chocolate
Chinese Ligustrum berry
creatine
catuaba
Convolvulus prostratus
crocetin
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Celastrus
cytidine
cola nut
Canscora
currant
carnosic acid
docosahexaenoic Acid
danshen
Dendrobium
decursin
decursinol
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
date
epicatechin
egg
ergothioneine
elk antler
emblicanin
eicosapentaenoic acid
Eucommia ulmoides
enokitake
folic acid
fucosterol
fo-ti
fish
flavanones
flavoglycosides
flavans
frankincense
flavanols
Flammulina velutipes
flavones
gallic acid
Ginsenosides
garcinol
ginkgetin
galantamine
Gypenoside
glucose
Glutamate
ginkgolides
Glycosphingolipids
galangin
ginkgo flavone glycoside
Ginkgoside
Guaranine
Glycine
ginkgoheteroside
Glucoraphanin
gastrodin
Honokiol
Hericenones
hazelnut
hydroxytyrosol
hericium mushroom
Homotaurine
isoliquiritigenin
Idebenone
isovitexin
icariin
Jatamansi
Kaempferol
Lycium
lemon balm
longan
lysophosphatidylcholine
linalool
Methylcobalamin
mangiferin
Myricetin
Monounsaturated fat
Methylxanthine
Marine fat
Mate
Methoxylated flavones
magnolol
NADH
Naringenin
Nardostachys
Nobiletin
Nervonic acid
oolong tea
Osthole
Phosphocreatine
Puerain
pyrroloquinoline quinone
Piperine
Puerarin
paraxanthine
Plankton
polysaccharides
Polydatin
polyunsaturated fat
Pleurotus eryngii
Phthalides
Periwinkle
punicalagins
paeoniflorin
Pycnogenol
Polygonum
Polygala
rosmarinic acid
Rehmannia
Rubiaceae
robusta coffee
Schizochytrium Oil
Soy
Schizochytrium
Sulbutiamine
Shellfish
Salmon Oil
Salidroside
Sialic acid
Shankhpushpi
Salvianolic acid
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Shilajit
Safranal
Sarcosine
Stilbenoid
Sulforaphane
Terminalia
Tumerone
Trichilia catigua
Taxillus chinensis
Tanshinone
Trichopus zeylanicus
Taurine
Turmerones
Triacetyluridine
Tiger Nut
Tremella
Uncaria
Uridine
Vincamine
Vitexin
Withanolides
Wogonin
Walnut
Xanthine
Xanthohumol
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Xanthone
Yuzu
Yumberry
Yohimbine

Products containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

Thorne Advanced DHA
Vitabase Brain Support
Vitabase Complete Essential Fatty Acids
Pure Encapsulations DHA Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations DHA Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations EFA Essentials
Pure Encapsulations Energize Plus™ Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations EPA/DHA
Pure Encapsulations EPA/DHA essentials 1,000 mg
Pure Encapsulations EPA/DHA essentials 1,000 mg
Vitabase EPA / DHA Omega-3
Pure Encapsulations EPA/DHA with Lemon
Pure Encapsulations EPA Ultimate
Klean Athlete Klean Omega ™
Douglas Laboratories Krill Oil
Pure Encapsulations Krill-Plex
Pure Encapsulations Krill-Plex
Metagenics MetaKids DHA
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations NeuroMood Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Omega
Pure Encapsulations O.N.E.™ Omega
Thorne Omega-3 w/ CoQ10
Thorne Omega Superb Lemon Berry
Metagenics OmegaGenics Algae EPA-DHA 300 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics EPA DHA 2400 Fish Oil
Metagenics OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 300 Lemon Lime
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 1000 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 1000 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 500 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 500 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil Mega 10®
Metagenics OmegaGenics Neuro 1000 mg
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Hi-Po
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Hi-Po
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Hi-Po Liquid
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Liquid
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Synergy
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Synergy
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ TG1000
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Ultra
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Ultra
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Ultra DHA
Designs For Health OmegAvail™ Ultra with Vitamin D3, K1 and K2
Douglas Laboratories Opti-EPA 500 ™ Cholesterol Free
Douglas Laboratories Opti-EPA 500 ™ Cholesterol Free
Metagenics PlusOne® Daily Prenatal Packs
Thorne Prenatal DHA
Pure Encapsulations Pro-Resolve Omega
Thorne Pro-Resolving Mediators
Integrative Therapeutics Pure Omega HP
Integrative Therapeutics Pure Omega Liquid
Integrative Therapeutics Pure Omega Ultra HP
Pure Encapsulations PureNutrients EPA/DHA
Douglas Laboratories QÜELL® FISH OIL DHA Ultra SPM
Douglas Laboratories QUELL Fish Oil ® - EPA/DHA Plus D
Metagenics SPM Active
Thorne Super EPA
Thorne Super EPA NSF
Thorne Super EPA Pro
Vitabase Super Omega-3
Douglas Laboratories Ultra G.L.A. Borage Oil
Douglas Laboratories Ultra G.L.A. Borage Oil
Pure Encapsulations Ultra Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations VisionPro EPA/DHA/GLA
Pure Encapsulations VisionPro EPA/DHA/GLA
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Active Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials® Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Healthy Balance Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Men's Vitality Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Daily Packs
Metagenics Wellness Essentials Women's Prime Daily Packs
Designs For Health XanthOmega™ Krill Oil