A study found that those who follow intermittent fasting or fast during Ramadan may have a reduced risk of age-related neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The study addresses the positive interaction between fasting and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a vital role in the survival and growth of neurons, specialized cells responsible for nerve impulses. BDNF is known to be "important in regulating glucose metabolism and energy. It is a protein encoded in humans by the BDNF gene. Lower levels of this factor are associated with neuronal loss, which studies have found to be a marker of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease."
The researchers conducted a systematic review of experimental and observational human studies conducted from January 2000 to December 2023, published in major databases. The review indicates that intermittent fasting "has variable effects on levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive functions in healthy overweight/obese individuals and patients with metabolic conditions." The authors find that the relationship between intermittent fasting and BDNF is of crucial importance as more people turn to fasting as a healthy practice. This study comes at a time when over two billion Muslims around the world are preparing to fast during Ramadan.
Despite the recommendation of fasting as a healthy practice, the researchers highlight the controversial nature of the studies they reviewed. They emphasize that "few human studies have shown that intermittent fasting increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor."
