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[reason]

Another specific benefit of calorie restriction is enumerated in this primate study, one that suggests a generally lower level of damage to the brain is taking place in calorie restricted individuals. The lack of impact on β-amyloid is interesting, however, given that calorie restriction has been shown to slow near every other measurable aspect of aging:

While moderate calorie restriction (CR) in the absence of malnutrition has been consistently shown to have a systemic, beneficial effect against aging in several animals models, its effect on the brain microstructure in a non-human primate model remains to be studied using post-mortem histopathologic techniques. In the present study, we investigated differences in expression levels of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and β-amyloid plaque load in the hippocampus and the adjacent cortical areas of 7 Control (ad libitum)-fed and 6 CR male rhesus macaques using immunostaining methods.

CR monkeys expressed significantly lower levels (~30% on average) of GFAP than Controls in the CA region of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, suggesting a protective effect of CR in limiting astrogliosis. These results recapitulate the neuroprotective effects of CR seen in shorter-lived animal models.

There was a significant positive association between age and average amyloid plaque pathology in these animals, but there was no significant difference in amyloid plaque distribution between the two groups. Two of the seven Control animals (28.6%) and one of the six CR animal (16.7%) did not express any amyloid plaques, five of seven Controls (71.4%) and four of six CR animals (66.7%) expressed minimal to moderate amyloid pathology, and one of six CR animals (16.7%) expressed severe amyloid pathology. That CR affects levels of GFAP expression but not amyloid plaque load provides some insight into the means by which CR is beneficial at the microstructural level, potentially by offsetting the increased load of oxidatively damaged proteins, in this non-human primate model of aging.

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/23473840

<br> <br>View the full article

[Mind]

Good to hear. Seems like these types of studies are getting to be commonplace/repetitive. If the SENS-damage theory of aging is substantially correct, then semi-starving oneself should produce beneficial outcomes in almost all diseases that are even remotely related to the build up junk due to normal human metabolism.

[DR01D]

Great study link!

In my mid 30s, before CR I had the sense that my mind might be slowing down. My thinking was just a bit "fuzzier" than when I was young. I talked to two of my college friends about it and we all agreed that we were getting older.

Today that fuzziness is long gone. I know this is a subjective statement but I'm 43 and I feel as sharp/quick as I did when I was 20.

Ah well... time to go to bed just a bit hungry.

[tydi]

I can confirm that in my teenage years i also had that sort of fuzzy thought as well as issues with cognition where i would forget, CR has definitely helped me stay more focused, but i find that it does have an effect causing a "stimulatory" factor in the body, which can and does seem to cause a level of anxiety, does anyone know why other than possible Ketosis factors?

also, this seems very beneficial for neurological issues that could arise in the future for certain types of genetic and ethnic groups. the other thing i wanted to point out is the level of release of glutamate, which would play a role in a lot of functionality and excitotoxicity as well.

BUT, all in all. So far, so good