A new study finds that intermittent fasting can “significantly improve” the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
And researchers in the United States said that eating food daily in an intermittent and specific way can mitigate the disruption of the body’s daily rhythm (biological clock), which is the “hallmark” of the disease.
Mice that were fed, over a time-controlled period by a team at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, showed improved memory and smaller buildup of amyloids in the brain (sticky plaques that can cause cell death).
The study authors noted that the findings could potentially lead to a human clinical trial.
Senior author Paula Desplatz, a professor of neuroscience at the university, said it has long been believed that disruptions to the internal biological clock are the result of neurodegeneration in people with Alzheimer’s disease, but it may be the opposite.
This makes it “a promising target for new therapies for Alzheimer’s disease,” she added.
The researchers fed the mice over a 6-hour period each day, which is equivalent to a 14-hour daily fasting window for humans.
Compared to mice that were fed food at all times, animals on a restricted schedule had better memory and were considered less active at night. These animals also followed a more regular sleep schedule and experienced fewer sleep disturbances, according to the study.
The mice within the test performed better on cognitive assessments than the other mice.
It is hoped that the results can be easily replicated in a clinical trial. Because they focus on lifestyle changes, rather than medication.
“Time-restricted feeding is a strategy that people can easily and immediately incorporate into their lives,” Desplatz said. “If we can show these results in humans, this approach could be a simple way to dramatically improve the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and those who care for them.” .
2023-08-23 11:14:12
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