Intermittent calorie restriction improved executive function and memory measures in cognitively intact older adults, an exploratory pilot study suggested.

The 8-week randomized clinical trial of 40 overweight, cognitively normal older adults with insulin resistance examined the effect of two interventions -- a 5:2 intermittent fasting plan versus a "healthy living" diet based on portion control and calorie reduction guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- on brain health. The 5:2 intermittent fasting group had 2 days of food intake of 480 calories/day (two meal replacement shakes), and 5 days of a healthy living diet.

Both interventions improved executive function and memory, with intermittent fasting showing better results on certain cognitive measures, said Dimitrios Kapogiannis, MD, of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, in a poster presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

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[–] NineMileTower@lemmy.world 9 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

On the evolutionary standpoint, this makes sense? No food, brain goes into overdrive to get to food.

What's more interesting to me is that the article claims to have found evidence that IF improved biomarkers of insulin resistance.

[–] 7uWqKj@lemmy.world 7 points 23 hours ago

"May" always means "or may not". There’s a reason why they don’t simply say "improves". #clickbait

[–] MyDogLovesMe@lemmy.world 5 points 22 hours ago

Non-objectively, I did this over the course of about a year. I was IF, and microdosing. The brain-boost was obvious. I was thinking circles around my co workers. One told me outright, someone in a meeting told them it was hard to keep up with me lately. I wrote it all off to the micro-dosing. But the IF must have helped too. I still IF, but only twice a week. I stopped micro-dosing too.

Me not smart feels now…