Draicchio Fulvia, Axen Kathleen V
Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USA.
Nutrients. 2025 Jul 23;17(15):2407. doi: 10.3390/nu17152407.
Intermittent fasting (IF) and caloric restriction (CR) have garnered attention for their potential to enhance cognitive function, particularly in aging and metabolically compromised populations. This narrative review critically examines whether the cognitive benefits of IF are attributable to its specific fasting patterns or are instead mediated by the production of weight loss, fat loss, and improvements in insulin sensitivity. Evidence from human trials suggests that reductions in body weight, especially visceral adiposity, and improvements in insulin resistance are key factors linked to enhanced cognitive performance. Comparisons between the results of IF and CR trials show comparable cognitive outcomes, supporting the idea that negative energy balance, rather than fasting or altered eating patterns, drive these effects. However, further investigation of specific types of IF patterns, as well as possible cognitive domains to be affected, may identify mechanisms through which IF can yield benefits on neurocognitive health beyond those of loss of body fat and its accompanying inflammatory state.
间歇性禁食（IF）和热量限制（CR）因其增强认知功能的潜力而受到关注，尤其是在老年人群和代谢受损人群中。这篇叙述性综述批判性地研究了间歇性禁食的认知益处是归因于其特定的禁食模式，还是由体重减轻、脂肪减少以及胰岛素敏感性改善所介导。人体试验的证据表明，体重减轻，尤其是内脏脂肪减少，以及胰岛素抵抗改善是与认知能力增强相关的关键因素。间歇性禁食和热量限制试验结果的比较显示出相当的认知结果，支持了负能量平衡而非禁食或改变饮食模式驱动这些效应的观点。然而，对特定类型的间歇性禁食模式以及可能受影响的认知领域进行进一步研究，可能会确定间歇性禁食能够对神经认知健康产生超出体脂减少及其伴随的炎症状态所带来益处的机制。
