It’s been proven that what people eat can help prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease, but what about when they eat? A recent study published in the journal Cell Metabolism suggests that participating in intermittent fasting could lead to a reduced risk of cognitive deterioration.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine adjusted the feeding schedule of certain groups of mice so that they only ate within six-hour windows each day. Researchers noted that this would be equivalent to 14 hours of fasting for humans. Compared to a control group of mice that ate on demand, the fasting mice showed improvements in memory, were less hyperactive in the evenings and had fewer sleep disruptions.
They were also shown to have less buildup of amyloid proteins in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of restricted eating is to restore the circadian rhythm, the researchers said, which could help counteract the numerous disruptions that Alzheimer’s patients face when it comes to sleep and schedule-related confusion. Senior study author Paula Desplats, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said, in a statement to Fox News Digital, “Our study emphasizes the power of feeding timing in aligning the circadian clock and its impact on the brain.”
She continued, “We were hopeful to see some improvements in pathology but did not expect such profound effects in reducing plaques and inflammation and improving memory. The effects of time-restricted feeding on lower amyloid pathology were also measurable in blood using markers found in the clinic, which was another important finding. The researchers hope that these findings will lead to human trials. The goal is to obtain funding to start a pilot study of patients next year.
Desplats said, “Accessible interventions like this have great translational potential, as they are available and are usually very well-tolerated. This may have special importance for the elderly, as time-restricted eating does not require limitation in calories or change in the diet, but may offer important benefits ranging from metabolic and sleep regulation to potential cognitive improvement.” Adopting a new dietary pattern should not be a replacement for medical care, however, as Desplats emphasized the importance of patients’ discussions about options with their clinicians.
Desplats noted one major limitation of the study is that it uses animal models that only represent certain aspects of disease and “do not present comorbidities or other clinical diseases associated with aging, which are very common in Alzheimer’s patients.” She added, “Furthermore, the study was done under strictly controlled conditions that did not resemble the variety of people’s habits and environments.”
The researchers hope that the public recognizes the importance of the circadian clock in regulating many aspects of health. “Sustaining healthy sleep and eating habits that are more synchronized with the natural environment are vital in a society that is constantly exposed to food, light and shift work,” said Desplats.