Role of Physical Activity on Calorie-Induced Changes in Cognition and Depression of Young and Aged Humans

Abstract

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.

Dietary Calorie Restriction as an Epigenetic Rejuvenator in Aging- Induced Decline of Cognitive Function

“…Mammalian aging is inevitably accompanied by structural and neurophysiological changes in the brain which likely to lead towards different neuronal disorders, cognitive decline and other behavioral changes etc. [5,6]. One of the major and fundamental risk factor for acceleration of aging and its related neuronal disorders is stress [7,8].…”