Consistently reducing your daily calorie intake by 30 per cent could be the key to a longer life and a younger brain, according to groundbreaking new research.
The study, published in the scientific journal Aging Cell, provides compelling evidence that long-term calorie restriction can significantly slow the signs of brain ageing, potentially staving off cognitive decline.
The Science Behind Calorie Restriction and Brain Health
Researchers from Boston University, in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging, conducted a long-term study on rhesus monkeys, whose brains age in a remarkably similar way to humans. The experiment, which began in the 1980s, involved one group of monkeys eating a balanced diet and another group consuming approximately 30 per cent fewer calories over a 20-year period.
After the monkeys died naturally between the ages of 22 and 37 (equivalent to 67-108 in human years), scientists examined their brain tissue. The results were striking: the monkeys on a calorie-restricted diet had brain cells that were metabolically healthier and more functional.
For an adult following standard NHS guidance, a 30 per cent reduction would mean a woman's intake dropping from 2,000 to 1,400 calories per day, and a man's from 2,500 to 1,900.
Long-Term Commitment is Crucial for Results
The research underscores a critical point: the calorie reduction must be maintained consistently over many years to yield any meaningful anti-ageing effects on the brain. Cognitive decline, an inevitable part of ageing, leads to slower reaction times, difficulty processing information, and a reduced capacity to form new social connections.
Ana Vitantonio, an expert in pharmacology, physiology and biophysics and a co-author of the study, stated: 'Calorie restriction is a well-established intervention that can slow biological ageing. This study provides rare, long-term evidence that calorie restriction may also protect against brain ageing in [humans].'
Dr Tara L Moore, another co-author, added that dietary habits 'may influence brain health' and that eating fewer calories could slow aspects of brain ageing when implemented long-term.
Broader Health Implications and UK Context
The benefits extend beyond just the brain. Researchers found that restricting calorie intake also helps preserve metabolic function across multiple brain regions, leading to better blood sugar control, improved blood pressure, and enhanced brain and kidney function.
This research is particularly relevant in the UK, where studies show over 37 per cent of people do not know how many calories they consume. However, mandatory calorie labelling in England has already led to more people noticing their intake.
Meanwhile, health experts at the University of Cambridge suggest the brain begins to age as early as 30, with this period showing the most significant 'directional changes in wiring'.
The findings arrive as the UK government announces a new sugar tax on milk-based drinks, expanding the existing levy on fizzy drinks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented, 'Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, hits the poorest hardest, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems and costs the NHS billions.'
With Alzheimer's Disease now the UK's biggest killer, affecting 982,000 people, this new evidence for calorie restriction offers a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to combat cognitive decline and promote lifelong brain health.
