Methods for identifying pre-disposition to cognitive decline and agents for reducing or preventing cognitive decline, or improving cognitive ability
A method for treating cognitive decline in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an omega-3 fatty acids, wherein the omega-3 fatty acid is administered to the subject simultaneously, sequentially or separately with at least one of (i) vitamin D or a metabolite thereof and/or (ii) an agent capable of reducing plasma homocysteine levels.
1 . A method for reducing or preventing cognitive decline, and/or improving cognitive ability, in a subject identified as pre-disposed to cognitive decline, the method comprising:
determining whether the subject is pre-disposed to cognitive decline by calculating a Nutritional Risk Index (NRI) of the subject, wherein calculating the NRI of the subject comprises:
(a) determining a level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), wherein the level of EPA and DHA in a sample from the subject that is about 4.82 weight percent or lower of total fatty acids is assigned a first score of n, and the level of EPA and DHA in the sample from the subject that is about 4.82 weight percent of total fatty acids or higher is assigned a score of zero;
(b) determining a level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof, wherein the level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof in a sample from the subject that is about 15 ng/ml or lower is assigned a second score of n, and the level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof in the sample from the subject that is greater than about 15 ng/ml is assigned a score of zero, wherein the vitamin D or metabolite thereof is a combination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2; and
(c) determining a level of homocysteine, wherein the level of homocysteine in a sample from the subject about 18.1 μmol or higher is assigned a third score of n, and the level of homocysteine in the sample from the subject that is lower than 18.1 μmol is assigned a score of zero,
wherein the NRI of the subject is calculated as the sum of the first score, the second score, and/or the third score, and wherein an NRI of n or higher is indicative of pre-disposition to cognitive decline of the subject; and
administering to the subject identified as pre-disposed to cognitive decline an omega-3 fatty acid wherein the omega-3 fatty acid is administered to the subject simultaneously, sequentially or separately with at least one of (i) a combination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and/or (ii) an agent capable of reducing plasma homocysteine levels.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human and a companion animal.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent capable of reducing plasma homocysteine levels is trimethylglycine.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering one or more B vitamins selected from the group comprising Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B7 and Vitamin B12 to the subject identified as pre-disposed to cognitive decline.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more B vitamins is Vitamin B12.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human subject of 50 years of age or more.
7 . A method for reducing plasma homocysteine levels in reducing or preventing cognitive decline, and/or improving cognitive ability in a subject identified as pre-disposed to cognitive decline, the method comprising:
determining whether the subject is pre-disposed to cognitive decline by calculating an NRI of the subject, wherein calculating the NRI of the subject comprises at least one of:
(a) determining a level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), wherein the level of EPA and DHA in a sample from the subject that is about 4.82 weight percent or lower of total fatty acids is assigned a first score of n, and the level of EPA and DHA in the sample from the subject that is about 4.82 weight percent of total fatty acids or higher is assigned a score of zero;
(b) determining a level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof, wherein the level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof in a sample from the subject that is about 15 ng/ml or lower is assigned a second score of n, and the level of vitamin D or metabolite thereof in the sample from the subject that is greater than about 15 ng/ml is assigned a score of zero, wherein the vitamin D or metabolite thereof is a combination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2; and
(c) determining a level of homocysteine, wherein the level of homocysteine in a sample from the subject about 18.1 μmol or higher is assigned a third score of n, and the level of homocysteine in the sample from the subject that is lower than 18.1 μmol is assigned a score of zero,
wherein the NRI of the subject is calculated as the sum of the first scope, the second score, and/or the third score, and wherein an NRI of n or higher is indicative of pre-disposition to cognitive decline of the subject; and
administering an agent capable of reducing plasma homocysteine levels to the subject identified as pre-disposed to cognitive decline simultaneously, sequentially or separately with at least one of (i) an omega-3 fatty acid and/or (ii) 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the subject is selected from the group consisting of a human and a companion animal.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the agent capable of reducing plasma homocysteine levels is trimethylglycine.