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Research Article

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans

A. V. Witte, M. Fobker, R. Gellner, S. Knecht, and A. Flöel
  1. Departments of aNeurology and
  2. cInternal Medicine,
  3. bCenter for Laboratory Medicine, and
  4. dInterdisciplinary Center of Clinical Research, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149 Münster, Germany

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PNAS January 27, 2009 106 (4) 1255-1260; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0808587106
A. V. Witte
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M. Fobker
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R. Gellner
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S. Knecht
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A. Flöel
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  • For correspondence: floeel@uni-muenster.de
  1. Edited by Fred Gage, The Salk Institute, San Diego, CA, and approved December 19, 2008 (received for review September 4, 2008)

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Abstract

Animal studies suggest that diets low in calories and rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) are beneficial for cognitive function in age. Here, we tested in a prospective interventional design whether the same effects can be induced in humans. Fifty healthy, normal- to overweight elderly subjects (29 females, mean age 60.5 years, mean body mass index 28 kg/m2) were stratified into 3 groups: (i) caloric restriction (30% reduction), (ii) relative increased intake of UFAs (20% increase, unchanged total fat), and (iii) control. Before and after 3 months of intervention, memory performance was assessed under standardized conditions. We found a significant increase in verbal memory scores after caloric restriction (mean increase 20%; P < 0.001), which was correlated with decreases in fasting plasma levels of insulin and high sensitive C-reactive protein, most pronounced in subjects with best adherence to the diet (all r values < −0.8; all P values <0.05). Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor remained unchanged. No significant memory changes were observed in the other 2 groups. This interventional trial demonstrates beneficial effects of caloric restriction on memory performance in healthy elderly subjects. Mechanisms underlying this improvement might include higher synaptic plasticity and stimulation of neurofacilitatory pathways in the brain because of improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammatory activity. Our study may help to generate novel prevention strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.

Keywords:
  • aging
  • cognition
  • diet
  • unsaturated fatty acids

Footnotes

  • 1To whom correspondence should be addressed at:
    Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129 Münster, Germany.
    E-mail: floeel{at}uni-muenster.de
  • Author contributions: S.K. and A.F. designed research; A.V.W., M.F., and A.F. performed research; A.V.W., M.F., R.G., and A.F. analyzed data; and A.V.W., R.G., S.K., and A.F. wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.

  • This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/0808587106/DCSupplemental.

  • © 2009 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
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Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans
A. V. Witte, M. Fobker, R. Gellner, S. Knecht, A. Flöel
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jan 2009, 106 (4) 1255-1260; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0808587106

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Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans
A. V. Witte, M. Fobker, R. Gellner, S. Knecht, A. Flöel
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Jan 2009, 106 (4) 1255-1260; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0808587106
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