Calorie restriction increases the activity of the OXR1 gene, which protects the brain from age-related changes. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. Nature Communication.
Calorie restriction is known to improve health and increase life expectancy, but the mechanism remains a mystery. In the new study, scientists conducted an experiment on 200 flies. They were raised on two different diets: either normal-calorie or calorie-restricted.
Five genes significantly affected lifespan under diet-limited conditions. Two of these have analogs in humans. These include OXR1, whose absence in humans causes severe neurological disorders incompatible with life. As scientists found, it regulates the functioning of a protein complex necessary for the processing of unnecessary proteins and lipids in cells, including the brain. It is possible that disruption of OXR1 and the resulting waste accumulation play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
The authors believe their study explains why intermittent fasting or calorie restriction may slow brain aging. The next step is to identify specific substances associated with this effect.
Previous scientists I learnedIt turns out that activating fat-related brain cells can extend people’s lives by 7%.