The benefits of dietary restriction (DR) on health and aging prevention have been well recognized. Recent studies suggest that DR may enhance brain functions including learning and memory, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis, all of which are associated with brain health. Under the stress stimulated by DR, a favorable environment is established for facilitating neuronal plasticity, enhancing cognitive function, stimulating neurogenesis and regulating inflammatory response. DR-induced expressions of factors such as heat shock proteins (HSPs), neurotrophic factors, and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) are responsible for the effect of DR on the brain. Due to the difficulty in practising long-term DR in human, the potential mimics of DR are also discussed.
限制饮食对健康和老化的益处已经逐渐被大家所认识。 本文从学习、 记忆、 突触可塑性、 神经再生等神经功能方面, 回顾了最近有关限制饮食的基础及临床研究。 目前认为限制饮食在神经功能方面发挥多种作用, 其中较令人满意的解释是限制饮食作为一种应激原, 能诱导机体内有利环境的形成。 这个环境有利于促进神经可塑 性, 提高认知功能, 刺激神经细胞再生和调节炎症反应。 此外, 许多分子包括热休克蛋白、 神经营养因子、 沉默调节蛋白1(SIRT1)等均参与了限制饮食对机体的保护作用。 鉴于完全和长时间的限制饮食在人类实施的困难性, 一些限制饮食模型的替代物开始被大家所重视。 本文也对限制饮食模型的替代物的研究进行了分析和探讨。