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Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Caloric Restriction on Brain Metabolic and Vascular Functions

  • Neurological Disease and Cognitive Function (G Logroscino, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Non-invasive neuroimaging methods have been developed as powerful tools for identifying in vivo brain functions for studies in humans and animals. Here, we review the imaging biomarkers that are being used to determine the changes within brain metabolic and vascular functions induced by caloric restriction (CR) and their potential usefulness for future studies with dietary interventions in humans.

Recent Findings

CR causes an early shift in brain metabolism of glucose to ketone bodies and enhances ATP production, neuronal activity, and cerebral blood flow (CBF). With age, CR preserves mitochondrial activity, neurotransmission, CBF, and spatial memory. CR also reduces anxiety in aging mice. Neuroimaging studies in humans show that CR restores abnormal brain activity in the amygdala of women with obesity and enhances brain connectivity in old adults.

Summary

Neuroimaging methods have excellent translational values and can be widely applied in future studies to identify dietary effects on brain functions in humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Ai-Ling Lin, Ishita Parikh, Jared D. Hoffman & David Ma

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Ai-Ling Lin & Jared D. Hoffman

  3. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, 143 Graham Avenue, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    Ai-Ling Lin

  4. 307 Sanders-Brown Building, 800 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Ai-Ling Lin

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  1. Ai-Ling Lin
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Correspondence to Ai-Ling Lin.

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Ai-Ling Lin, Ishita Parikh, Jared D. Hoffman, and David Ma declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lin, AL., Parikh, I., Hoffman, J.D. et al. Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Caloric Restriction on Brain Metabolic and Vascular Functions. Curr Nutr Rep 6, 41–48 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0187-9

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