Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Brain and Cognitive Function

Version 1 : Received: 25 August 2021 / Approved: 27 August 2021 / Online: 27 August 2021 (16:22:57 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Gudden, J.; Arias Vasquez, A.; Bloemendaal, M. The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Brain and Cognitive Function. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3166, doi:10.3390/nu13093166. Gudden, J.; Arias Vasquez, A.; Bloemendaal, M. The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Brain and Cognitive Function. Nutrients 2021, 13, 3166, doi:10.3390/nu13093166.

Abstract

The importance of diet and the gut-brain axis for brain health and cognitive function is increasingly acknowledged. Dietary interventions are tested for their potential to prevent and/or treat brain disorders. Intermittent fasting (IF), the abstinence or strong limitation of calories for 12 to 48 hours, alternated with periods of regular food intake, has shown promising results on neurobiological health in animal models. In this review article, we discuss the potential benefits of IF on cognitive function and the possible effects on the prevention and progress of brain-related disorders in animals and humans. We do so by summarizing the effects of IF which - through metabolic, cellular and circadian mechanisms - lead to anatomical and functional changes in the brain. Our review shows that there is no clear evidence of a positive short-term effect of IF on cognition in healthy subjects. Clinical studies show benefits of IF for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis on disease symptoms and progress. Findings from animal studies show mechanisms by which Parkinson’s disease, ischaemic stroke, autism spectrum disorder and mood- and anxiety disorders could benefit from IF. Future research should disentangle whether positive effects of IF hold true regardless of age or the presence of obesity. Also, variations in fasting patterns, total caloric intake and intake of specific nutrients may be relevant components of IF success. Longitudinal studies and Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) will provide a window into the long-term effects of IF on the development and progress of brain-related diseases.

Keywords

Intermittent fasting; cognition; brain-related diseases; prevention and progress

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Food Science and Technology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.