Scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona found that a low-calorie diet reduced brain changes associated with age-related memory loss in rats. The study was published in the journal nutrients.
The scientists conducted experiments on aged mice, half of which were placed on a calorie-restricted diet while the rest were fed as usual. The researchers found that the mice on the diet were better at learning new skills. The group that ate the low-calorie diet scored better on the spatial recognition test and a memory test that evaluated the functioning of the hippocampus, among other things. This area of the brain is critical for learning and memory.
The findings suggest that this improvement is associated with both age-related neuronal loss and a reduction in inflammatory activity in the hippocampus.
Advances in science and health have led to an increase in the average life expectancy of people and, accordingly, an increase in the number of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the study highlight the potential of lifestyle changes to promote healthy brain aging and prevent age-related cognitive deficits.