Neurotrophic effects of intermittent fasting, calorie restriction and exercise: a review and annotated bibliography
Analysis
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Quote: "Intermittent fasting and calorie restriction enhance neuroplasticity and cognitive function via elevated BDNF levels."
- Relevance: This relates directly to the research brief's focus on neuroplasticity and cognitive enhancements from fasting, specifically through biological pathways like BDNF.
- Evidence Strength: Strong
- Missing Information: The specific impact of fasting duration and frequency, individual metabolic profiles, and the role of ketogenesis.
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Quote: "Exercise synergistically modulates the beneficial effects of fasting on cognitive performance."
- Relevance: Highlights a potential moderating variable (exercise) that could influence fasting's effects on cognition, aligning with the brief's interest in lifestyle factors.
- Evidence Strength: Moderate
- Missing Information: Detailed interaction between fasting and exercise, such as optimal regimens and individual differences.
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Quote: "Calorie restriction mimics some fasting-induced cognitive benefits but with distinct biochemical pathways."
- Relevance: Suggests alternative or complementary dietary approaches to fasting that might share or differ in mechanisms, which could broaden the scope of cognitive enhancement strategies.
- Evidence Strength: Moderate
- Missing Information: Specific pathways and comparative effectiveness between fasting and calorie restriction.
Suggested Search Queries
- "BDNF levels and cognitive enhancement through intermittent fasting"
- "Interaction between exercise and fasting in cognitive performance"
- "Comparative analysis of calorie restriction vs. fasting on neuroplasticity"
Conflicts of Interest
- No conflicts of interest were noted in the review. Given the potential breadth and resource needs of this research area, the absence of declared funding sources might warrant further scrutiny.