Effects of Calorie Restriction on Cognitive Decline

The practice of calorie restriction slows aging and extends healthy life, quite dramatically so in short-lived species, and far more modestly in long-lived species. All of the mechanisms of aging, the forms of damage that accumulate in old tissues and the outcomes of that damage, are affected. Some are affected more than others, however. So it is possible to see some aspects of aging that are less robustly responsive to calorie restriction, such as loss of cognitive function, as noted here. It is interesting to speculate on the specific mechanisms involved in an age-related decline that responds well to life-long calorie restriction, but very poorly to calorie restriction initiated in later life. We know for example that structural damage to the brain occurs in conjunction with vascular aging, meaning increased blood pressure, reduced integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and so forth. The brain regenerates poorly, so this is a form of damage that accumulates over time and will not be remediated by the later adoption of calorie restriction and a corresponding reduction in blood pressure. Calorie restriction (CR) has been considered the most effective non-pharmacological intervention to counteract aging-related diseases and improve longevity. This intervention has shown beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases and functional declines related to aging, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and neuroendocrine disorders. However, ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs