Can Calorie Restriction Slow Down Brain Aging? The Latest Study Revealed

Researchers are delving into the potential benefits of calorie restriction in preserving brain health as part of the ongoing quest to understand how lifestyle factors influence the aging process, particularly in the brain.

Aging naturally impacts various aspects of our bodies, including the brain, leading to a decline in functions like memory and learning. Prior studies have indicated that adopting a healthy lifestyle, encompassing elements such as balanced nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and social connections, can contribute to slowing down brain aging.

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, CA, has now added a new dimension to this research. Their study, recently published in the journal Nature Communications, explores the impact of calorie restriction on brain aging using models of both fruit flies and human cells.

The findings highlight a specific gene that experiences enhancement through calorie restriction, contributing to the processes crucial for maintaining healthy brain aging. Dr. Lisa Ellerby, a professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and co-senior author of the study, emphasizes the significance of understanding factors influenced by dietary restriction that offer protection to the brain, given its vulnerability during aging.

Dr. Ellerby explains that the study was initiated due to the notable role of dietary restriction in the aging process, particularly its impact on the brain. With many individuals adopting various forms of caloric restriction, such as intermittent fasting, the research aimed to provide insights into how these efforts might influence brain aging.

Several studies, including a review from February 2021, have suggested that dietary restriction could potentially safeguard the brain against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Dr. Ellerby emphasizes the critical nature of understanding methods to prevent or slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where no direct treatments are currently available.

In the study, fruit fly models and human cells were employed to investigate the effects of calorie restriction on brain aging. The researchers utilized a diverse set of 160 fruit fly strains with distinct genetic backgrounds, subjecting them to either a normal diet or a diet comprising only 10% of their regular nutrition. Through this, they identified five genes, one of which corresponds to the oxidation resistance 1 (OXR1) gene in humans and rodents.

The study sheds light on the potential influence of calorie restriction on genes associated with longevity and oxidative stress resistance, paving the way for further exploration into lifestyle interventions that could positively impact brain health during the aging process.

keyword: caloric restriction and brain health, impact of dietary restriction on brain aging, Buck Institute for Research on Aging, caloric restriction and gene expression, neuroprotection through dietary restriction, OXR1 gene and brain aging, lifestyle interventions for brain health, caloric restriction and neurodegenerative diseases, impact of intermittent fasting on brain aging, genetic factors in brain aging and calorie restriction