Long-Term Calorie Restriction Linked to Slower Brain Aging, Landmark Study Finds
A decades-long study reveals that consistently reducing calorie intake by 30% may significantly slow the biological aging process in the brain, offering potential implications for cognitive health and the prevention of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
As we age, the central nervous system undergoes changes characterized by metabolic dysfunction and increased oxidative damage. These cellular processes compromise the integrity of the myelin sheath – the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers – leading to the degradation of white matter. The brain’s immune cells,known as microglia,play a crucial role in responding to injury and infection,but chronic activation of these cells can trigger harmful inflammation and neuronal damage,particularly in conditions like aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine have now demonstrated a compelling link between long-term calorie restriction and preserved brain health. Their findings, stemming from a study initiated in the 1980s, suggest that reducing daily caloric intake by 30% over more than 20 years can mitigate signs of brain aging. The research utilized an experimental model with strong relevance to human physiology.
“While calorie restriction is a well-established intervention that can slow biological aging and may reduce age-related metabolic alterations in shorter-lived experimental models, this study provides rare, long-term evidence that calorie restriction may also protect against brain aging in more complex species,” explained a lead researcher involved in the study.
The original study, conducted in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging, involved two groups of subjects. One group maintained a normal, balanced diet, while the other consumed approximately 30% fewer calories daily. The initial aim was to assess the impact of calorie restriction on lifespan. Subjects lived out their natural lives, and their brains were analyzed after death.
To delve into the cellular mechanisms at play, the research team employed single nuclei RNA sequencing, a cutting-edge technique that allows for the assessment of the molecular profile of individual brain cells. By comparing brain cells from both groups, they were able to pinpoint how calorie restriction influenced gene expression and the activity of pathways associated with brain aging.
The analysis revealed that brain cells from the calorie-restricted group exhibited improved metabolic health and functionality. Notably, these cells showed increased expression of genes related to myelin and enhanced activity in key metabolic pathways – specifically glycolytic and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways – essential for myelin production and maintenance.
According to researchers, these findings underscore the potential of long-term dietary interventions to influence the trajectory of brain aging at a cellular level. “This is crucial because these cellular alterations could have implications that are relevant to cognition and learning. simply put, dietary habits may influence brain health and eating fewer calories may slow some aspects of brain aging when implemented long term,” added a co-author of the study, a professor of anatomy & neurobiology.
The research was published online in the journal Aging Cell.
The study received financial support from th
