A new study from researchers at Boston University suggests that cutting calories over the long term could help slow brain aging.
The research, recently published in the journal Aging Cell, offers rare evidence that calorie restriction may have protective effects on the brain in complex species, not just in simple experimental models like worms or mice.
The brain changes naturally with age. As it gets older, cells in the central nervous system begin to show signs of metabolic problems and oxidative stress, which is damage caused by unstable molecules.
These issues can make it harder for the brain to maintain the myelin sheath—a protective layer that covers nerve fibers. When the myelin sheath breaks down, it leads to a decline in white matter, the brain tissue responsible for sending signals between different brain regions.
Another important factor in brain aging is microglia, which are the brain’s main immune cells. Microglia respond to infections or injuries by becoming activated. But in aging or diseases like Alzheimer’s, they can stay activated for too long.
This chronic inflammation can harm neurons and contribute to mental decline. Scientists still don’t fully understand why this happens.
To explore whether calorie restriction could slow these effects, the researchers looked at subjects that had been part of a long-term study started in the 1980s with the National Institute on Aging.
The subjects were split into two groups: one followed a normal, healthy diet, while the other consumed 30% fewer calories. This calorie-restricted diet lasted for more than 20 years.
At the end of their natural lifespans, the researchers examined the brains of both groups. They used a technique called single nuclei RNA sequencing to analyze individual brain cells. This advanced method allowed them to see how calorie restriction affected the activity of thousands of genes in different types of brain cells.
They found that the brain cells from the calorie-restricted group were healthier and more functional. These cells showed increased activity in metabolic pathways that are essential for producing and maintaining myelin, including glycolytic and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways.
They also expressed more genes related to myelin function, suggesting the calorie-restricted brains were better able to preserve their white matter.
The findings suggest that long-term calorie restriction can influence how the brain ages at the cellular level. “While calorie restriction is a well-established way to slow aging in simple models, this is rare long-term evidence that it might also help in more complex species,” said Ana Vitantonio, a fifth-year Ph.D. student and lead author of the study.
Co-author Dr. Tara L. Moore, professor of anatomy and neurobiology, noted that the changes seen in the brain could impact cognitive functions like learning and memory.
“This is important because it shows that diet could play a key role in how our brains age. Eating fewer calories might slow some aspects of brain aging if started early and maintained long term,” she said.
These results provide valuable insight into how lifestyle choices, like diet, may help protect the brain and delay age-related decline. Though more research is needed, the study adds to growing evidence that long-term healthy habits can make a real difference in brain health.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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