Nourishing the Brain or the Mood? Dietary Omega-3s for Psychological, but Not Cognitive Health

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by jay

Mood disturbances, often accompanied by cognitive deficits, present a major public health challenge. Diet is increasingly viewed as a modifiable factor in mental health, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered therapeutically promising. This study tested whether dietary omega-3 intake moderates cognitive performance changes linked to psychological symptoms in non-clinical participants.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Public health burden of mood disorders

Mechanisms linking mood disorders and nutrition

Dietary omega-3s and potential brain effects

Article Nourishing the Brain or the Mood? Dietary Omega-3s for Psychological, but Not Cognitive Health Jakub Orłowski , Maria Kossowska-Wywiał and Aneta Brzezicka * Institute of Psychology, SWPS University, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland; [jorlowski@swps.edu.pl](jorlowski@swps.edu.pl) (J.O.); [mkossowska1@swps.edu.pl](mkossowska1@swps.edu.pl) (M.K.-W.) * Correspondence: [abrzezi2@swps.edu.pl](abrzezi2@swps.edu.pl) Abstract Background: Mood disturbances, often accompanied by cognitive deficits, represent a major public health challenge. Diet is increasingly recognized as a modifiable factor in mental health, with specific nutrients such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showing therapeutic potential. This study investigated whether dietary omega-3 intake moderates variations in cognitive performance associated with psychological symptoms in non-clinical samples. Method: A total of 313 healthy adults completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake. Psychological symptoms were measured using the depression screening questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the stress assessment instrument (PSS-10), while cognitive performance, including short-term and episodic memory, was evaluated using Sternberg and Old/New recognition tests. A subgroup of 52 older adults completed a detailed in-person FFQ to enable the precise quantification of EPA, DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake. Results: Diets rich in omega 3, particularly nuts, seeds, fish and seafood, were associated with lower depression and stress scores. EPA and DHA, but not ALA, were specifically linked to those mood benefits. However, dietary omega-3 intake was not significantly associated with cognitive performance and did not moderate the relationship between mood and memory. Self-reported omega-3 supplementation was linked to fewer depressive symptoms and better episodic memory. Conclusions: While dietary omega-3 is associated with improved well-being, its role in cognition in healthy adults is not well-established and warrants further investigation. Keywords: omega-3 fatty acids; dietary patterns; depression; stress; memory; cognition; healthy adults Academic Editors: Hubertus Himmerich, Young-Eun Cho and Edite Teixeira-Lemos Received: 14 October 2025 Revised: 18 December 2025 Accepted: 20 December 2025 Published: 23 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1. Introduction Mood disorders, often co-occurring with cognitive impairments, represent a significant global health challenge. Affecting an estimated 300 million individuals, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) stands as one of the most common mental illnesses globally, with projections indicating it will become the foremost cause of disease burden by the year 2030 [1] . In Poland, epidemiological surveys estimate that around 3–4% of adults meet the criteria for depressive episodes and around 10% of its subclinical form. Given the pervasiveness of subclinical symptoms in the general population, early mood disturbances can significantly impair quality of life and serve as a clear marker of elevated risk for developing a full-blown disorder, such as MDD [2] . Consequently, the search for early and preventive interventions to mitigate subclinical symptoms is a major priority in clinical research. The pathophysiology of mood disorders is complex and involves several mechanisms, including dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, neurotransmitter systems (e.g., serotonin, dopamine), neuroinflammation, and structural and functional brain changes in regions such as the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala [3] . These neurological systems are also influenced by nutritional status [4] . Dietary patterns, particularly the Western diet pattern, high in saturated fats and refined

FAQs

What question does the study address about omega-3 intake?

It investigates whether dietary omega-3 intake moderates variations in cognitive performance associated with psychological symptoms in non-clinical samples.

How were psychological symptoms and cognitive performance measured?

Depression screening used PHQ-9 and stress used PSS-10. Cognitive performance, including short-term and episodic memory, was assessed with Sternberg and Old/New recognition tests.

Did dietary omega-3 intake relate to cognitive performance?

Dietary omega-3 intake was not significantly associated with cognitive performance and did not moderate the relationship between mood and memory.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by jay