The Effects of N-3 Fatty Acids on Neural Membrane Fluidity

Article 1 Title: Effects of fatty acid unsaturation numbers on membrane fluidity and α-secretase-dependent amyloid precursor protein processing

Article 2 Title: Handbook of Essential Fatty Acid Biology

Article 1 Authors: Xiaoguang Yang, Wenwen Sheng, Grace Y. Sun, and James C-M. Lee

Article 2 Authors: David I. Mostofsky, Shlomo Yehuda

Article 1 Date: December 22nd, 2010
Article 2 Date: Copyright 1997

Article 1 Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3040984/
Article 2 Link: https://books.google.com/books?id=omXmBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA443&lpg=PA443&dq=n-3+neuron+membrane+fluidity&source=bl&ots=X9Ppm9WauM&sig=zcs_nqHXZnwuYgp_gn3AQ9ohDpo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiT573yh9bPAhUJLyYKHT0BBLcQ6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=n-3%20neuron%20membrane%20fluidity&f=false

Summary: The membranes of neurons play a large role in the transmuting electrical signals from one neuron to the next. Thus the lipid bi layers are highly important to transmission of signals throughout the nervous system. Research published by nuerochem suggests that the high concentration of PUFA's and omega-3 fatty acids plays a role on the effectiveness of the membrane. The study worked with Alzheimer's patients, who were experiencing psychological issues. The team found that with AA, EPA, and DHA supplementation for 24 hours, membrane fluidity was increased. It is theorized that this is due to the the bent nature of PUFA's, which prevent "tight packing" of the lipid bilayers and thus increase fluidity. The importance of this is recognized by work published by David I. Mostofsky and Shlomo Yehuda, which states that membrane fluidity is crucial to the optimal performance of the neuron membane in transferring electrical signals. They go on to say that a balanced amount of n-3 an n-6 can help modulate the neuronal fluidity and thus improve neural performance.