dietary restriction and environmental enrichment

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Suppression of brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders by dietary

restriction and environmental enrichment: molecular mechanisms [Review]

Mark P. Mattson, Wenzhen Duan, Jaewon Lee and Zhihong Guo

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2001, 122:7:757 - 778

Manuscript received 22 November 2000 Accepted 22 November 2000;

Abstract

Dietary restriction (reduced calorie intake with nutritional maintenance)

can extend lifespan and may increase the resistance of the nervous system to

age-related diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. An environment

enriched in intellectual and physical activities can also allay many of the

adverse effects of aging on the brain. The mechanisms underlying the

beneficial effects of dietary restriction and environmental enrichment on

the brain involve stimulation of the expression of neurotrophic factors and

'stress proteins'. The neurotrophic factors and stress proteins induced by

dietary restriction may protect neurons by suppressing oxyradical

production, stabilizing cellular calcium homeostasis and inhibiting a form

of programmed cell death called apoptosis. Interestingly, dietary

restriction and environmental enrichment also increase numbers of

newly-generated neural cells in the adult brain suggesting that these

behavioral modifications can increase the brain's capacity for plasticity

and self-repair. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular

mechanisms underlying these effects of diet and behavior on the brain is

leading to novel therapeutic agents that mimick their beneficial effects.

I have in the past posted regarding the anti-adaptive effects of caloric

restriction in a free-range environment with its associated risks and

stressors. The above study concludes that the neurological benefits of

caloric restriction can be had from environmental enrichment. “Use it or

lose it” is still the order of the day. Both caloric restriction and

exogenous hormones are substituting for simple work, both physical and

mental and the side effects of both interventions will prove them to be

imperfect substitutes.

Bob Cruder - Denver, USA

Latitude (North) Longitude (West)

39.4 104.5

" As long as people believe in absurdities

they will continue to commit atrocities. "

Voltaire