Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19171901›Full record

Trial reportProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America2009

Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans.

A V Witte, M Fobker, R Gellner, S Knecht, A Flöel

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · greenAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 254 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
254citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
21.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03372109 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2017, after this paper: background citation

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Repeated Periods of Modified Fasting to Support Healthy Natural Weight Management and Prevention of Weight Gain in Overweight But Generally Healthy Adults Over the Winter Holiday Period

TypeinterventionalSponsorSupplement Formulators, Inc.Ran2017 to 2018Enrolled23ConditionsBody Weight ChangesArmsMeal replacement shake, Multivitamin and mineral capsules, Fish oil with sesame lignans and olive extract softgel, Prebiotic Chewable tablet, Clove Extract and Maqui Berry extract capsule
NCT03457870 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2018, after this paper: background citation

Investigating the Impact of Intermittent Energy Restriction and Chewing on Neural Stem Cell Ageing and Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis: The ChANgE Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorKing's College LondonRan2018 to 2020Enrolled123ConditionsAging, Cognitive DeclineArmsIntermittent Energy Restriction, Chewing, Chewing + Intermittent Energy Restriction
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

254 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 577 citations in OpenAlex.

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  15. Glycolysis-enhancing αAlzheimer's research & therapy · 2026
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194 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

A V WitteDepartment of Neurology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149 Münster, Germany.
M Fobker
R Gellner
S Knecht
A Flöel
University Hospital Münster · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Animal studies suggest that diets low in calories and rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) are beneficial for cognitive function in age. Here, we tested in a prospective interventional design whether the same effects can be induced in humans. Fifty healthy, normal- to overweight elderly subjects (29 females, mean age 60.5 years, mean body mass index 28 kg/m(2)) were stratified into 3 groups: (i) caloric restriction (30% reduction), (ii) relative increased intake of UFAs (20% increase, unchanged total fat), and (iii) control. Before and after 3 months of intervention, memory performance was assessed under standardized conditions. We found a significant increase in verbal memory scores after caloric restriction (mean increase 20%; P < 0.001), which was correlated with decreases in fasting plasma levels of insulin and high sensitive C-reactive protein, most pronounced in subjects with best adherence to the diet (all r values < -0.8; all P values <0.05). Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor remained unchanged. No significant memory changes were observed in the other 2 groups. This interventional trial demonstrates beneficial effects of caloric restriction on memory performance in healthy elderly subjects. Mechanisms underlying this improvement might include higher synaptic plasticity and stimulation of neurofacilitatory pathways in the brain because of improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammatory activity. Our study may help to generate novel prevention strategies to maintain cognitive functions into old age.

Indexed as

Caloric RestrictionAgedAged, 80 and overC-Reactive ProteinDietFatty Acids, UnsaturatedFemaleGuideline AdherenceGuidelines as TopicHumansMaleMemoryMiddle AgedC-Reactive ProteinFatty Acids, Unsaturated

Identifiers

PMID19171901
PMCPMC2633586
OpenAlexW1975959567

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.