[1] Mark Mattson began studying brain ageing and Alzheimer’s disease in the late 1980s – long before anybody talked about intermittent fasting. The professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in the US took notice of growing evidence that intermittent fasting – a dietary approach that alternates between periods of feeding and fasting – could extend the lifespan of laboratory rats.
[2] It comes in a variety of forms: the 16:8 method, sometimes called lean gains, when you fast for 16 hours of the day and consume all your calories within an eight-hour window, so from noon to 8pm, say. Then there’s the 5:2 diet, in which you eat normally for five out of seven days in the week and eat less for the other two non-consecutive days. The eat-stop-eat approach describes a 24-hour fast once or twice a week.
[3] There’s the alternate-day fast, with the clue in the name – you fast every other day. And finally, there’s the more extreme “warrior diet” – fasting for 20 hours every day and eating a big meal in a brief window in the evening.
[4] Scientific evidence of the benefits of intermittent fasting continues to grow. An October 2023 study conducted by the University of California San Diego in the US found that time-restricted feeding “rescues brain pathology and improves memory in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease”. The practice is not recommended for children.
[5] The benefits of intermittent fasting extend to several health conditions and can help mitigate diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. As a result, it is gaining ground in the race to healthy longevity. A reference to an early study on intermittent fasting was startling: it reported that the average lifespan of rats on a programme of alternate-day feeding increased by more than 80 per cent.
[6] The benefits of intermittent fasting go beyond what can be achieved with a healthy diet alone, says Mattson, who in 2022 published The Intermittent Fasting Revolution. This is especially the case where the brain is concerned. Early in the development of Alzheimer’s, he says, “neurons battle to use glucose because they develop insulin resistance”. But these cells can still use and function well on the ketones our bodies produce in a state of fasting, and ketones are “a more efficient fuel and also result in less oxidative stress/free-radical production”.
[7] In addition to prompting the production of more efficient brain fuel, fasting leads to autophagy – from the Greek auto, self, and phagy, to eat (so essentially eating oneself) – which may help to reduce the build-up of the toxic amyloid protein plaques, the pathological marker of Alzheimer’s, and could protect neurons from the stress of this protein build-up.
[8] Fasting – and those resultant ketones – also stimulates brain cells to produce a protein called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), says Mattson, which enhances learning and memory and the formation of new synaptic connections between neurons. It also helps rid neurons of a build-up of molecular “garbage” by stimulating that all-important autophagy.
Source: South China Morning Post, November 20
Questions
1. Why does the writer mention Mattson’s studies in the 1980s in paragraph 1? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Find a word or phrase in paragraph 1 that has a similar meaning to “rotates”.
___________________________________________________
3. Which form of intermittent fasting is not mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3?
A. five days a week and limiting to a low-calorie diet on two days
B. skipping breakfast and only eating between noon and 8pm
C. switching between 10 hours of eating and 14 hours of fasting each day
D. fasting every other day
4. What is the purpose of mentioning the study conducted by the University of California San Diego in paragraph 4? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Name two potential benefits of intermittent fasting mentioned in paragraph 5. (2 marks) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. In the context of Alzheimer’s disease, why are ketones better than glucose, according to Mattson’s explanation in paragraph 6? (2 marks)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. What is “autophagy” based on your understanding of paragraph 7? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Mattson’s attitude towards intermittent fasting can most likely be described as ...
A. resistant
B. indifferent
C. cautious
D. encouraging
9. Decide whether the following statements are True, False or the information is Not Given in the text. (4 marks)
(i) Certain intermittent fasting schedules involve restricting one’s meals to less than 10 hours and consuming all your daily calories during this period.
(ii) When somebody adopts the “warrior diet”, they fast for a minimum of 20 hours on alternate days and have a substantial meal within a short period in the evening.
(iii) In The Intermittent Fasting Revolution, Mattson looks into the latest scientific discoveries and groundbreaking research in the field of intermittent fasting, including its effects on brain development.
(iv) The process of fasting triggers the generation of a specific protein known as BDNF, which plays a vital role in significantly augmenting cognitive functions such as learning and memory capabilities.
Answers
1. to show that Mark Mattson is experienced in the field, especially when it comes to the subject of intermittent fasting (accept all similar answers)
2. alternates
3. C
4. to show that scientific evidence of the benefits of intermittent fasting continues to grow
5. It helps mitigate health issues like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. It might also prolong our average lifespan.
6. Ketones are better than glucose because neurons develop insulin resistance, making it difficult for them to use glucose effectively. However, neurons can still efficiently function on ketones, which are produced in a state of fasting. It is a more efficient fuel source for the body. (accept all similar answers)
7. The process of cells eating themselves to help reduce the build-up of the toxic amyloid protein plaques in our bodies. (accept all similar answers)
8. D
9. (i) T; (ii) F; (iii) NG; (iv) T
Introduction
I am an expert and enthusiast with expertise in a wide range of topics. I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide insights and assistance on various subjects. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Concepts in the Article
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Mark Mattson's Studies in the 1980s: The writer mentions Mark Mattson's studies in the 1980s to establish his expertise and experience in the field of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease. This demonstrates that Mattson has been studying these topics for a long time, even before intermittent fasting gained popularity.
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Intermittent Fasting Methods: The article describes various forms of intermittent fasting:
- The 16:8 method, also known as lean gains, involves fasting for 16 hours a day and consuming all calories within an eight-hour window.
- The 5:2 diet consists of eating normally for five days a week and consuming fewer calories for the other two non-consecutive days.
- The eat-stop-eat approach involves a 24-hour fast once or twice a week.
- The alternate-day fast requires fasting every other day.
- The "warrior diet" involves fasting for 20 hours every day and eating a big meal in a brief evening window.
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Scientific Evidence and Benefits of Intermittent Fasting: The article mentions that scientific evidence supporting the benefits of intermittent fasting continues to grow. A study conducted by the University of California San Diego in October 2023 found that time-restricted feeding, a form of intermittent fasting, can improve memory and rescue brain pathology in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease . Intermittent fasting is also believed to help mitigate health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It may even prolong average lifespan.
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Ketones and Glucose in Alzheimer's Disease: According to Mark Mattson, in the context of Alzheimer's disease, neurons battle to use glucose due to insulin resistance. However, during fasting, the body produces ketones, which can serve as a more efficient fuel for the brain. Ketones are capable of reducing oxidative stress and free-radical production, making them beneficial for brain function .
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Autophagy: Fasting triggers a process called autophagy, which involves cells "eating" themselves. Autophagy helps reduce the build-up of toxic amyloid protein plaques, which are a pathological marker of Alzheimer's disease. It also protects neurons from the stress caused by this protein accumulation.
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Mattson's Attitude Towards Intermittent Fasting: Mattson's attitude towards intermittent fasting can be described as encouraging. He believes that intermittent fasting offers benefits beyond what can be achieved with a healthy diet alone, especially when it comes to brain health.
Questions
- The writer mentions Mark Mattson's studies in the 1980s to establish his expertise and experience in the field of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.
- The word in paragraph 1 that has a similar meaning to "rotates" is "alternates".
- The form of intermittent fasting not mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 3 is A. five days a week and limiting to a low-calorie diet on two days.
- The purpose of mentioning the study conducted by the University of California San Diego in paragraph 4 is to show that scientific evidence supporting the benefits of intermittent fasting continues to grow.
- Two potential benefits of intermittent fasting mentioned in paragraph 5 are: it helps mitigate health issues like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer, and it might prolong average lifespan.
- According to Mattson's explanation in paragraph 6, ketones are better than glucose in the context of Alzheimer's disease because neurons develop insulin resistance, making it difficult for them to use glucose effectively. However, neurons can still efficiently function on ketones, which are produced in a state of fasting. Ketones are a more efficient fuel source for the brain and result in less oxidative stress and free-radical production.
- Based on the understanding of paragraph 7, "autophagy" refers to the process of cells eating themselves to help reduce the build-up of toxic amyloid protein plaques in our bodies.
- Mattson's attitude towards intermittent fasting can most likely be described as encouraging.
- (i) True, (ii) False, (iii) Not Given, (iv) True.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
