(ETX Daily Up) – According to a study, following a diet similar to intermittent fasting limits the proliferation of proteins in the brain that lead to dementia.
What if a strict diet might limit the appearance of symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease? This is confirmed by a new American study conducted by researchers from the University of USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and published in the journal Cell Reports.
In this study, conducted on mice, the specialists noticed that a diet similar to intermittent fasting limited the level of two proteins: beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau protein. These two proteins cause disturbances in cognitive functions and lead to dementia. They are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
To carry out their research, the researchers subjected mice, genetically modified to develop Alzheimer’s disease, to two types of diets. The first category followed a fasting “mimicking” diet called the “Fasting Mimicking Diet” (FMD). It is low in calories, protein and carbohydrates. On the other hand, it is rich in unsaturated fat, namely healthy fats. This limits energy intake by 40%. This diet was followed for four to five days in a row, twice a month over a period of fifteen months. Between these cycles, the mice were on a regular diet. The second group was put on a normal diet.
Results ? Mice that were fed an FMD diet showed a significant decrease in beta-amyloid, a substance found in the neurons of certain neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Same story on the side of the hyperphosphorylated Tau protein, involved in metabolic disorders.
A phase 1 clinical trial was also conducted with 40 volunteers, suffering from mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. Patients, in good health, follow an FMD diet five days in a row once a month. Some of them simply replaced lunch or dinner with pasta or rice for five days. According to specialists, the effects of this experimentation are beneficial. However, further tests still need to be performed.