Fasting rejuvenates the brain
Dutch researchers from the University of Groningen, working under the guidance of Professor Bart Eggen, demonstrated in experiments on mice that following a diet with a reduction in calories due to fats prevents age-related inflammatory activation of microglia.
Microglia is a collection of brain cells that ensure the maintenance and preservation of the integrity and normal functioning of nervous tissue. The dysfunction of these cells accompanying some diseases is associated with disorders of neuropsychiatric development and an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions. Aging is also associated with inflammatory reactions triggered by microglial cells in certain regions of the brain, but it is not completely clear to date whether diet and lifestyle have an impact on this process.
The authors analyzed the effect of high– and low-fat diets on inflammation and microglia markers in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that plays an important role in the processes of memorizing information, in 6-month-old mice. In addition, they studied the effect of these diets on the microglia of old (two-year-old) mice that were subjected to physical exertion throughout their lives (voluntary running in a wheel) or were kept on a low-calorie diet (a 40% reduction in caloric intake).
Based on the results obtained, the researchers concluded that the inflammatory activation of microglia can be prevented only by following a low-fat diet and simultaneously limiting the amount of calories consumed. A diet with a low fat content, but a normal calorie content, is not enough to prevent such changes.
In addition, the authors found that only physical activity significantly less effectively prevents inflammatory activation of microglia, despite the fact that many studies of other groups have revealed a relationship between exercise and a reduction in the risk of developing various age-related diseases.
Eggen notes that in order to understand the mechanisms that cause the effects they demonstrated, there is still a lot of work to be done. In this study, mice were kept on the same diet throughout their lives, so it is unclear how a change in diet may affect the results. For example, whether switching to a low-fat diet can neutralize the negative effects of a high-fat diet or unlimited access to food. Further research is also needed to identify the possible impact of the observed changes on cognitive functions.
Article by Zhuoran Yin et al. Low-Fat Diet With Caloric Restriction Reduces White Matter Microglia Activation During Aging is published in the journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on EurekAlert materials!: Caloric restriction in combination with low-fat diet helps protect aging mouse brains.