Our Longevity Diet

A report today describes the autopsy results for the examination of the brain of a woman who died at the age of 115 years. There were absolutely no signs of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) or beta-amyloid deposits (a characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease).

The woman had undergone neurological and psychological examinations at the age of 112 and 113, and showed no signs of dementia or problems with memory or attention at that age. She was alert and involved, interested in national and international politics. She lived in a residential care home from the age of 105 due to poor vision, but her brain and intelligence compared favorably with people forty years younger.

I have not found any detailed biographical reports on this lady, so we don’t know her economic status or life history, but from her age we know she lived through the trying times of World Wars I and II, as well as the Great Depression. It is not too far-fetched to imagine that she experienced some caloric restriction and/or involuntary fasting during those years.

I have yet to see any studies on intermittent fasting that allow the subjects to go back to unrestricted diets after a period of time, and still continue to follow-up on health and longevity measures. My impression from the study reports we do have, however, make me think that calorie restriction or intermittent fasting during early adulthood may be more beneficial, in the long run, than the same diet initiated later in life. By the time we reach middle-age, much of the damage is done already.

Whatever the cause of this woman’s longevity — lucky genes or just a freak of nature — she is proof that degeneration of the brain is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Other studies show that challenging the aging brain to learn new things is one way to help stave off deterioration. We are hoping intermittent fasting will also help.