Intermittent calorie restriction has been shown to improve executive function and memory in cognitively intact older adults, according to an exploratory pilot study. The study, which involved 40 overweight, cognitively normal older adults with insulin resistance, compared the effects of a 5:2 intermittent fasting plan with a “healthy living” diet based on portion control and calorie reduction guidelines. Both interventions showed improvements in cognitive function, with intermittent fasting showing better results on certain cognitive measures.
Research Findings
The study aimed to determine whether intermittent calorie restriction could lower insulin resistance, improve cognitive performance, brain metabolism and function, and normalize Alzheimer’s-associated biomarkers in adults ages 55 to 70. Results showed that both diets decreased BMI and waist circumference, but intermittent fasting had better outcomes. The intermittent fasting group exhibited markers suggesting increased ketogenesis and high compliance, which were not seen in the healthy living diet group.
Brain glucose levels were reduced with both diets, with intermittent fasting showing a more significant decrease. Brain aging, as measured by BrainAGE, decreased with both diets, indicating a potential slowing of cognitive decline. Executive function and memory composite scores improved significantly with the intermittent fasting diet compared to the healthy living diet. Learning and memory tasks also showed improvement with intermittent fasting.
Actigraphy data revealed that sedentary bouts decreased with intermittent fasting and increased with the healthy living diet. This suggests that intermittent calorie restriction may have additional benefits beyond cognitive function, such as promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior.
Limitations and Future Research
The study had a short duration of 8 weeks, which may have limited the ability to detect long-term effects of the interventions. Additionally, the study may have missed potential effects that could have occurred beyond the 8-week timeframe. The researchers acknowledged that cognitive performance improvements may partly reflect practice effects and that larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the findings.
Intermittent calorie restriction shows promise in improving brain health and cognitive function in older adults. The study provides evidence that dietary interventions, such as intermittent fasting, can have significant effects on cognitive performance, brain metabolism, and overall brain health. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of intermittent calorie restriction and its potential role in preventing cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
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