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Normal aging is known to encounter stress. Association of aging with declining cognition and elevated depression is a phenomenon which can be modulated by lifestyle. Caloric restriction down regulates normal aging by lowering stress and has been found to protect aging processes. The present study assessed the effect of Calorie Restriction (CR) and Physical Activity (PA) on aging-induced changes on cognition and depression. Healthy male aged (20-35 years; N=312) and (55-70 years; N=392) were considered from low income and middle education population. Data related to socioeconomic status, health status, cognitive performance by mini-cog and 6CIT, depression by CES-D Scale, PA Level (PAL) and calorie intake were collected through questionnaires. AP (at-par) diet (amount consumed equivalent to the amount of energy required for 24 h) reduced cognitive function of the aged group compared to the young of the same calorie group without affecting their depression under similar conditions. CR diet improved cognition with a lowering of depression in the young subjects compared to aged of the same group. High PAL in comparison to low PAL irrespective of age and calorie intake positively modulated cognition and depression of the subjects. These results suggest that (a) young population with CR diet and aged population with AP diet are benefitted in both cognitive ability and depression (b) high PAL unlike low PAL improved both cognition and depression of both young and aged population irrespective of their calorie intake.

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Mental functions represent the activity status of the brain and are assessed to understand mental ability. In qualitative term, the sum of mental abilities is referred to as 'intelligence'. A steady blood glucose level is the prerequisite for optimum brain function. Thus the importance of breakfast after a night long fast is immense. Brain tissue consumes additional glucose during challenging mental tasks. The present study assessed mental abilities using ' Arithmetic Test' and 'Matrix Test' in addition to Academic performance taking two groups of young boys (10-12 yrs.) under given experimental conditions referred to as 'with breakfast' and 'without breakfast'.The results of mental functions with and without breakfast corroborate with earlier reports suggesting a positive correlation of blood glucose with mental ability. The study further confirms a positive correlation of dietary protein intake with mental ability of the study population.