Intermittent Energy Restriction and Chewing on Neural Stem Cell Ageing and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis Associated Cognition

Extended bouts of periodic mastication and intermittent energy restriction (IER) may improve cognitive performance in the context of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in an ageing population. A randomised controlled parallel design trial will determine the impact of a 3 month IER diet (2 consecutive days of very low calorie diet and 5 days of normal eating) and a mastication intervention (1 piece of gum chewed for 10 minutes 3 times a day) in comparison to a control on neurogenesis-associated cognitive measures and circulating levels of the anti-ageing protein Klotho.