CellMet: interval fasting and a healthy diet improved brain function of the elderly

US scientists from Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging have found that interval fasting and healthy eating improve cognitive function in older adults. The study was published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism (CellMet).

The experiment involved 40 elderly people diagnosed with obesity and insulin resistance. This condition of the body increases the risk of accelerated brain aging and decreased mental abilities.

Volunteers were assigned to two diet plans: interval fasting or healthy eating. In the first group, participants limited their calorie intake to a quarter of their daily allowance on two consecutive days each week, drinking two shakes providing 480 calories per day. On the remaining five days, they followed a healthy diet.

The second group followed a healthy diet every day, consuming fruits, vegetables, whole-grain cereals, lean proteins and skim dairy products, and avoiding foods with high amounts of salt and sugar.

The results of the study showed that both interval fasting and the healthy lifestyle diet resulted in reduced insulin resistance and improved cognitive function.

Participants in both groups showed a reduction in insulin resistance, but the improvements were more pronounced in the intermittent fasting group. This was evidenced by a significant reduction in specific biomarkers of insulin resistance found in neuronal extracellular vesicles.

In terms of brain health, the study found that both diets helped slow the rate of brain aging, especially in brain regions critical for executive function, such as the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex.

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