Fatty Acids and Executive Function Development in 7-12 Year Olds

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Purpose: To examine the effect of the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio on age-related changes in executive functions in children and older adults. Participants: Eighty-four typically-developing 7-to 12-year-old children. Procedure (methods): Participants and a caregiver will participate in 4 sessions. Three sessions will consist of the screening. These sessions will be telephone calls to collect 24-hour diet information that will be used to determine whether they are eligible for the fourth session. Approximately 120 participants will be screened to find 84 participants who are eligible for the fourth session, in which participants will complete a series of tests on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) - a touch-screen device that provides computerized versions of standardized cognitive tests. They will also complete a maze task in which they figure out a path through the maze by walking on the correct squares. Brain activity will be recorded using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system.

Official Title
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Fatty Acids and Executive Functions: Cortical Activation and Behavioral Performance.

Conditions
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Executive Function

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Typically-developing children 7-12 years old Exclusion Criteria: Children or parents who do not speak English Any diagnosis of a psychological illness History of seizures History of tobacco exposure during gestation History of alcohol exposure during gestation

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 7 Years
Maximum Age: 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 7-9 year olds<br>These are children who are between 7 and 9 years old when they are tested. | |
| 10-12 year olds<br>These are children who are between 10 and 12 years old when they are tested. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Error (count) and latency (in milliseconds) measures from executive function tasks | For one specific aim, the omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio will be determined by summing the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid levels in plasma and dividing omega-6 fatty acids by omega-3 fatty acids. The calculated ratio will be used to predict error and latency scores on executive function tasks. For a second specific aim, the oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements will be used to predict the error and latency measures from executive function tasks. | One time with children who are 7-12 years old | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) | Plasma levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids will be used to predict oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations from near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements in children who are 7-12 years old. | One time with children who are 7-12 years old. | 
| Performance on the Maze as measured by Noldus Ethovision | Performance on the Maze as measured by Noldus Ethovision tracking system will be compared to performance on standardized measures of planning and spatial working memory. | One time with children who are 7-12 years old |