Recent study results suggest that calorie restriction may help to protect brain cells from the ravaging effects of aging. Study leader, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, director of the Biochemistry of Aging Laboratory at the University of Florida, compared levels of proteins that are markers of cell death in two groups of rats – one with access to unlimited food and water, and another who were given 40% fewer calories. Results showed that the levels of these proteins increased with aging in the rats with access to unlimited food supplies. However, in the calorie restricted rats the level of the marker proteins remained stable. Furthermore, levels of a protein thought to protect cells against cell death decreased by 60% in the non-restricted rats, but actually decreased with age in the calorie restricted rats. Thirdly, DNA fragmentation – another indicator of cell death – more than doubled in the unrestricted rats as they aged, however this increase was 36% lower in the calorie-restricted rats. Together, the results suggest that calorie restriction helps to protect brain cells from age-related damage by slowing down the increase in cell death, or apoptosis, that normally occurs with aging.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 2003; Jan 2; [published online ahead of print]
