Effects of n-3 fatty acids, EPA v. DHA, on depressive symptoms, quality of life, memory and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial

First published online 20 September 2011Depressive symptoms may increase the risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. Consumption of n-3 PUFA may alleviate both cognitive decline and depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the benefits of supplementing a diet with n-3 PUFA, DHA and EPA, for depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL) and cognition in elderly people with MCI. We conducted a 6-month double-blind, randomised controlled trial. A total of fifty people aged >65 years with MCI were allocated to receive a supplement rich in EPA (1·67 g EPA + 0·16 g DHA/d; n 17), DHA (1·55 g DHA + 0·40 g EPA/d; n 18) or the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA; 2·2 g/d; n 15). Treatment allocation was by minimisation based on age, sex and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS). Physiological and cognitive assessments, questionnaires and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes were obtained at baseline and 6 months (completers: n 40; EPA n 13, DHA n 16, LA n 11). Compared with the LA group, GDS scores improved in the EPA (P=0·04) and DHA (P=0·01) groups and verbal fluency (Initial Letter Fluency) in the DHA group (P=0·04). Improved GDS scores were correlated with increased DHA plus EPA (r 0·39, P=0·02). Improved self-reported physical health was associated with increased DHA. There were no treatment effects on other cognitive or QOL parameters. Increased intakes of DHA and EPA benefited mental health in older people with MCI. Increasing n-3 PUFA intakes may reduce depressive symptoms and the risk of progressing to dementia. This needs to be investigated in larger, depressed samples with MCI.Natalie Sinn, Catherine M. Milte, Steven J. Street, Jonathan D. Buckley, Alison M. Coates, John Petkov, and Peter R. C. How

Linking network coherence to service performance: modelling airline strategic alliances

While strategic alliances have been widely recognised as an appropriate governance mode for the co-development of capabilities, the importance of leveraging these capabilities to assemble a network of inter-linked services has been a neglected area of research. We propose network coherence as a construct to capture the degree of service consistency across the networks of the three largest global airline alliances. Employing a multi-dimensional service performance evaluation model, with a data set of over 500 customers, flying on more than 700 routes, the paper examines the impact of network coherence on customer satisfaction and market-based performance variables. The results indicate that network coherence plays a key role in improving service performance and is a useful construct in capturing a number of important service variables for airlines. The paper highlights the importance of knowledgebased capabilities in achieving competitive positioning for alliance members, exposing a number of critical challenges for global alliance networks