Intermittent Fasting May Help Those With Alzheimer's, Study Finds

Intermittent fasting has been a go-to method of eating for bodybuilders and other athletes looking to achieve certain health goals. It turns out that the oft-debated practice might prove beneficial for another group of individuals: those living with Alzheimer's disease. 

A new study out of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine examined the connection between intermittent fasting and lack of sleep in those with Alzheimer's. Approximately 80 percent of those afflicted with Alzheimer's also experience severe disruptions to their natural sleep schedules, resulting in increased confusion at night, difficulty sleeping, and a different sleep and wake cycle. Currently, there are no treatments targeting this part of the disease. 

Testing on mice, researchers found that by feeding the animals intermittently, with a focus on their natural sleep and wake cycles, they were able to correct any disruptions to their internal biological clocks. The rodents were fed on a precise time-restricted schedule while maintaining the same amount of food in their diet every day. Scientists observed an improvement in cognitive function, especially memory, and a reduction in brain amyloid protein buildup.

“Circadian disruptions in Alzheimer’s are the leading cause of nursing home placement,” study senior author Paula Desplats explained. “Anything we can do to help patients restore their circadian rhythm will make a huge difference in how we manage Alzheimer’s in the clinic and how caregivers help patients manage the disease at home.”

Related: Map Shows U.S. States, Counties Where Alzheimer's Is Most Common

Desplats broke down how the study upends previously held wisdom that the worsening sleep schedules of people with Alzheimer's are a result of the disease, when in fact the reverse is likely the truth. 

“For many years, we assumed that the circadian disruptions seen in people with Alzheimer’s are a result of neurodegeneration, but we’re now learning it may be the other way around—circadian disruption may be one of the main drivers of Alzheimer’s pathology,” Desplats shared. “This makes circadian disruptions a promising target for new Alzheimer’s treatments, and our findings provide the proof-of-concept for an easy and accessible way to correct these disruptions."

While the promising results have only been observed in mice so far, Desplats is hopeful that the team's findings can translate to real-life application for people.  

"Time-restricted feeding is a strategy that people can easily and immediately integrate into their lives,” she said. “If we can reproduce our results in humans, this approach could be a simple way to dramatically improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them."

Turns out intermittent fasting could help your brain on top of your body.