Cognitive Scores and Selected Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Adolescents With Depression in Sokoto

Introduction: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) participate in neuronal functions, but their relationship with cognitive outcomes among adolescents with depression remains uncertain. Objective: To compare cognitive screening scores between adolescents with reported depression and healthy participants and describe available PUFA measurements in Sokoto, Nigeria. Method: This cross-sectional comparison included 30 adolescents with reported depression and 25 comparison participants. Cognitive screening was described using a mini-mental-state instrument, and selected fatty-acid values were reported for the depression group. An independent-samples t-test was reported. Result: Mean cognitive scores were 21.50 ± 0.94 and 26.72 ± 3.048 in the depression and comparison groups, respectively (reported t = 8.31; p = 0.001). Four PUFA summary values were available only for the depression group, without units or reference intervals. Conclusion: Lower cognitive screening scores were reported in the depression group. The available data do not establish PUFA deficiency or an association between PUFA status and cognition; methodological and biochemical verification is required.