Janet Guo1, Ailing Lin1,2, and Vikas Bakshi1
1Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States, 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lexington, KY, United States
Caloric restriction
(CR) has been shown to increase healthspan in various species; however, its
effects on preserving brain functions in aging remain largely unexplored. We used
multimodal neuroimaging (PET/MRI/MRS) and behavioral testing to determine in vivo brain glucose metabolism, energy
metabolites, and white matter structural integrity in young and old mice fed with
either control or 40% CR diet. Blood glucose and ketone bodies were measured. Our findings suggest CR
could slow brain aging, partly due to early shift of energy metabolism caused
by lower caloric intake. These results provide rationale for CR-induced
sustenance of brain health with extended longevity.
