Intermittent fasting in mice is effective in promoting long-term memory retention

A new study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has established that intermittent fasting (IF) is an effective means of improving long-term memory retention and generating new adult hippocampal neurons in mice, according to which researchers hope has the potential to slow the progress of cognitive decline in the elderly.

The study, published today in Molecular biology, found that it restricted a number of calories diet fasting was an effective means of promoting Klotho gene expression in mice. This study has shown that Klotho, often known as the “longevity gene,” plays a central role in the production of new neurons or neurogenesis born in hippocampal adults.

Born into adults hippocampal neurons are important for memory training and its production decreases with age, partly explaining the cognitive impairment of the elderly.

The researchers divided the female mice into three groups; a control group who received a standard daily feeding diet, a daily calorie-restricted (CR) diet, and intermittent fasting (IF) in which mice were fed every two days. The last two groups received 10% fewer calories than the control.

Over three months, mice in the IF group showed better long-term memory retention compared to the other groups. When the brains of these mice studied, it was evident that the Klotho gene was upregulated and neurogenesis increased compared to those on the CR diet.

Dr. Sandrine Thuret of King IoPPN said, “We now have a significantly greater understanding of why intermittent fasting it is an effective means of increasing adult neurogenesis. Our results demonstrate that Klotho is not only required, but plays a central role in adult neurogenesis, and suggests that IF is an effective means of improving long-term memory retention in humans. ”

Dr. Thuret’s previous work has shown that calorie-restricted diets in humans can improve memory function. This research showed that IF can improve learning processes and can affect age-related cognitive impairment.

Dr. Gisele Pereira Dias of King IoPPN said: “By proving that IF is a more effective means of improving long-term memory than other calorie-controlled diets, we have given ourselves an excellent means to move forward. “To see such significant improvements by lowering total calorie intake by just 10% proves that there are many promises.”

Researchers now hope to recreate this study with human participants in order to explore the effects of IF.