In a study from the University of Southern California, scientists found that cycles of a diet that mimics fasting appears to reduce signs of Alzheimer’s in mice genetically engineered to develop the illness.
They found that mice that had undergone several cycles of the fasting-mimicking diet showed less Alzheimer’s pathology.
The researchers found lower levels of two major hallmarks of the disease: amyloid-beta—the primary driver of plaque buildup in the brain—and hyperphosphorylated tau protein, which forms tangles in the brain.
They also found that brain inflammation lessened and had better performance on cognitive tests compared to the mice that were fed a standard diet.
The fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) is high in unsaturated fats and low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates and is designed to mimic the effects of a water-only fast while still providing necessary nutrients.
In the study, the team also found the FMD mice also showed lower levels of brain inflammation, including a reduction in the number of active microglia, the immune cells that seek and destroy pathogens, and damaged cells in the brain.
In addition, mice on the diet demonstrated a lower level of oxidative stress, which plays a role in Alzheimer’s pathology by damaging neurons and contributing to the accumulation of amyloid in the brain.
The study specifically pointed to the free radical “superoxide” as a central culprit in the damage occurring in these Alzheimer’s mouse models.
In addition to the study in mice, researchers also included data from a small Phase 1 clinical trial of the fasting-mimicking diet in human patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s disease.
Forty such patients who were otherwise healthy and had family support were randomized to either a once-monthly, 5-day fasting-mimicking diet or a 5-day period in which lunch or dinner was replaced with a meal based on pasta or rice.
Initial data indicates that the FMD is safe and feasible for patients with mild impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease.
The team says further tests in the ongoing clinical trial will measure cognitive performance, inflammation, and more.
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The study was conducted by Professor Valter Longo et al and published in Cell Reports.
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