Intermittent calorie restriction improved executive function and memory measures in cognitively intact older adults, an exploratory pilot study suggested.

The 8-week randomized clinical trial of 40 overweight, cognitively normal older adults with insulin resistance examined the effect of two interventions – a 5:2 intermittent fasting plan versus a “healthy living” diet based on portion control and calorie reduction guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – on brain health. The 5:2 intermittent fasting group had 2 days of food intake of 480 calories/day (two meal replacement shakes), and 5 days of a healthy living diet.

Both interventions improved executive function and memory, with intermittent fasting showing better results on certain cognitive measures, said Dimitrios Kapogiannis, MD, of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, in a poster presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.