The Potential of Fasting-Mimicking Diet as a Preventive and Curative Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease

Biomolecules. 2023 Jul 14;13(7):1133. doi: 10.3390/biom13071133.

Abstract

This review examines the potential of fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). FMDs are low-calorie diets that mimic the physiological and metabolic effects of fasting, including the activation of cellular stress response pathways and autophagy. Recent studies have shown that FMDs can reduce amyloid-beta accumulation, tau phosphorylation, and inflammation, as well as improve cognitive function in animal models of AD. Human studies have also reported improvements in AD biomarkers, cognitive functions, and subjective well-being measures following FMDs. However, the optimal duration and frequency of FMDs and their long-term safety and efficacy remain to be determined. Despite these uncertainties, FMDs hold promise as a non-pharmacological approach to AD prevention and treatment, and further research in this area is warranted.

Keywords: Alzheimer; diet; health span; nutrition; prevention.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease* / prevention & control
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Caloric Restriction
  • Diet
  • Fasting / physiology
  • Humans
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • tau Proteins

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.