Scientists find major link between Alzheimer’s disease and intermittent fasting

Scientists have found a major link between a popular diet trend that could change the outlook for people with Alzheimer’s.

A new study has found intermittent fasting could slow, or even reverse, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers found that limiting food intake to a 10-hour window each day improves cognitive function and reduces the build-up of amyloid proteins, a key marker of the disease.

For those who typically eat breakfast at 8am, this would mean finishing their last meal by 6pm.

The study on mice from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine also found that time-restricted eating caused improvement to their memories and sleep patterns, suggesting not only can the diet protect against dementia, it might reverse its symptoms.

“Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s has touched my family, and I always wanted to do translational science and somehow reach patients,” neuroscientist at University of California San Diego and senior author on the study, Dr Paula Desplats, said.

A study has found intermittent fasting could help slow or even reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Time-restricted feeding is a strategy that people can easily and immediately integrate into their lives.”

Researchers found that around 80 per cent of individuals with Alzheimer’s experience disruptions to their circadian rhythm, which often leads to sleep difficulties and cognitive decline at night.

The circadian rhythm is the body’s 24-hour internal clock, regulating vital processes such as sleep, body temperature, metabolism, and hormone production.

Patients with Alzheimer’s often wake up during the night, displaying confusion and increased activity, which heightens their risk of injury. This disruption to their sleep patterns is a key reason many patients require residential care.

“We assumed that these circadian disruptions were a result of neurodegeneration, but it may actually be the opposite,” Dr Desplats said.

“Circadian disruption may be one of the primary drivers of Alzheimer’s pathology.”

Published in the Journal Cell Metabolism, the study explored the connection between Alzheimer’s and the circadian rhythm by observing genetically modified mice, which develop a version of Alzheimer’s. The mice were placed on different feeding schedules.

The modified mice exhibited signs of memory decline, night-time hyperactivity, and amyloid deposits in the brain. While the control group of mice was fed at regular intervals, the experimental group had food available only during a six-hour window each day. It’s still unclear whether they were fed in the morning or evening.

Amyloid proteins are a key marker of the Alzheimer’s disease.

At the end, results showed the mice that were forced to fast for 18 hours everyday showed changes in dozens of genes associated with Alzheimer’s.

The rodents yielded better cognitive tests results, slept better and showed an improved circadian rhythm.

“We started seeing that even the pre-existent amyloid plaques started to be fragmented and reducing size,” Dr Desplats said.

“And that implies they were being cleared by the system.”

The results suggest that intermittent fasting could help reduce the build-up of amyloid molecules in the brain by regulating the circadian rhythm.

Originally published as Scientists find major link between Alzheimer’s disease and intermittent fasting