A new study published in the Journal Cell Metabolism has found that intermittent fasting may help slow or even reverse the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers who studied mice with genetically modified Alzheimer’s discovered that eating within a 10-hour window per day improved cognitive function and reduced the accumulation of amyloid protein, a hallmark sign of the disease.
The study focused on the link between Alzheimer’s and the circadian rhythm, which regulates physiological processes such as sleep, body temperature, and metabolism. Researchers found that mice who were forced to fast for 18 hours every day showed changes in dozens of genes associated with Alzheimer’s, improved cognitive tests results, better sleep patterns, and reduced amyloid protein buildup.
The study suggests that intermittent fasting may reduce the development of amyloid molecules in the brain by regulating the circadian rhythm. This type of eating schedule is also known as time-restricted feeding, where a person eats all their food within a 12-hour window and fasts for the rest of the day.
While more research is needed to confirm these findings in humans, this study provides promising evidence that intermittent fasting may be a potential tool in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Paula Desplats, lead researcher on the study, notes that “time-restricted feeding is a strategy that people can easily and immediately integrate into their lives.” With its potential benefits for cognitive function, sleep patterns, and overall health, time-restricted fasting may be worth considering for those looking to improve their brain health.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14380919/Doctors-intermittent-fasting-Alzheimers.html