Research
Energy balance
Dietary restriction does not protect against all neurodegenerative conditions; specifically, it fails to protect and may accelerate disease progression in models of ALS caused by Cu/Zn-SOD mutations.
While DR is generally beneficial, it may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with specific genetic mutations like Cu/Zn-SOD ALS, where it might worsen outcomes. Consultation with a physician is essential before adopting DR for neurodegenerative conditions.
ModerateRefutesMEDIUM confidence
Disease onset was unaffected by DR, and once the mice became symptomatic the progression of the disease was accelerated (Pedersen and Mattson 1999).
Why this rating
Based on a specific transgenic mouse model of ALS; may not generalize to all ALS cases.
Source
Meal size and frequency affect neuronal plasticity and vulnerability to disease: cellular and molecular mechanisms
Mark P. Mattson et al. · Journal of Neurochemistry · 2003
DOI 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01586.x
narrative_reviewCited 289×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Dietary restriction (DR), including caloric restriction and intermittent fasting, extends lifespan and protects against neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke) by inducing a cellular stress response that upregulates neurotrophic factors (BDNF) and protein chaperones (HSP-70).Good
- Dietary restriction stimulates neurogenesis (the generation of new neurons) in the adult hippocampus, primarily by enhancing the survival of newly generated cells via BDNF, rather than increasing the proliferation rate of stem cells.Good
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