11) The Relationship of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) with Learning and Behavior in Healthy Children: A Review

CN Kuratko et al; Nutrients 2013, 5, 2777-2810

In infants, DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development. The usual intake of DHA among toddlers and children is low and some studies show improvements in cognition and behavior as the result of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids including DHA”

“Studies of brain activity reported benefits of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation and over half of the studies reported a favorable role for DHA or long chain omega-3 fatty acids in at least one area of http://getzonedup.com cognition or behavior. Studies also suggested an important role for DHA in school performance “
Higher prenatal DHA status positively affected visual information processing and brain activity in later childhood; and, that current DHA intake was positively associated with brain activity during performance of a specific task requiring familiarity processing.”

Infancy, childhood, and adolescence are times of rapid neuronal maturation, synaptogenesis, and gray matter expansion, all of which are associated with brain DHA accumulation

DHA synthesis from its fatty acid precursors is known to be inefficient, making dietary sources of preformed DHA important”