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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aging; Cognitive Decline
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Intermittent Energy Restriction; Behavioral: Chewing; Behavioral: Chewing + Intermittent Energy Restriction

Detailed Description

Nutrition and human health are strongly related. Altering overabundance through fasting/calorie-restricted diets has profound effects on homeostasis, tissue regeneration, and cancer. Tissue stem cells respond to the physiological changes that occur during fasting through dynamic shifts in their metabolism. Restricting energy intake in mice or introducing mutations in nutrient-sensing pathways can extend lifespans by as much as 50%. Post-mortems reveal that tumours, heart problems, neurodegeneration and metabolic disease are generally reduced/delayed in long-lived mice. Therefore, extending lifespan by energy restriction (ER) also seems to increase 'healthspan', the time lived without chronic age-related conditions. These insights have hardly made a dent in human medicine. Molecular and cellular insights should be established in humans to validate interventions such as ER to delay ageing and associated conditions e.g. cognitive decline (Murphy et al., 2014).

Stem cells from the central nervous system also respond to ER. Recently, the Thuret lab have found that ER, in the absence of malnutrition, promotes hippocampal stem cells to proliferate and differentiate into new-born neurons. Because these new postnatal hippocampal neurons have been shown to play a role in cognition, ER also promoted enhanced cognition in rodents (Zainuddin et al., 2012; de Lucia et al., 2017; Thuret et al., 2012). This phenomenon of neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons are generated from neural stem cells, is also occurring in humans (Spalding et al., 2013). It is a tightly regulated process occurring in the mammalian hippocampus which is an environmentally responsive brain structure known to regulate learning, memory and mood. Proposed functions of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). include enhancing recognition memory, the ability to recognise previously encountered stimuli, and pattern separation, the ability to differentially encode small changes in similar inputs (Clelland et alk., 2009; Sahay et al., 2011). It has been posited that calorie restriction may increase neurogenesis as a "cellular relic" of intermittent feeding patterns during evolution as a response to alternating periods of famine and abundant food (Murphy & Thuret, 2015). Human trials have found significant improvements in verbal recognition memory after 30% reduction in calorie intake (Witte et al., 2009). Also, intermittent fasting in humans has been associated with significant increases in brain activation volume in areas involved in brain function control and plasticity(Belaïch et al., 2016). Food texture and mastication have also been implicated in AHN and cognitive ability (Smith et al., 2016). Decreased mastication due to the removal of molars and edentulism in both humans and animals have a negative impact on AHN and associated cognition. Human populations, in particular, have shown a close association between masticatory function, cognitive status and age-related neurodegeneration in the elderly (Miura et al., 2003). The exact mechanism by which mastication affects cognition is unknown.

Research question: In older, overweight participants does IER and/or extended periods of mastication enhance performance inhippocampus-dependent memory tasks and increase anti-ageing marker Klotho?

Objectives:

1. A randomised controlled parallel-design trial will determine the impact of an IER diet (2 consecutive days of a very low calorie diet, 5 days of normal healthy eating for 3 months) and/or extended periods of mastication (10 minutes 3 times a day for 3 months) compared to a control group (continued habitual eating behaviour, dietary patterns) on primary outcome variables (MST and Klotho) in older, healthy participants with overweight or class I obesity.
2. To assess the impact of an IER diet and extended periods of mastication on secondary outcomes variables including body composition, mood and sleep.
3. To explore whether extended periods of mastication can be utilised as a weight loss/fasting aid.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 123
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • England
    • London, England, United Kingdom, SE1 9NH
      • Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences Division, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford St

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female subjects.
• 60+ years of age at the time of consent.
• BMI 25-35.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject is unable to understand the participant information sheet.
• Subject is unable to understand and/or completely perform the cognitive testing.
• Chews more than 3 sticks of gum per month, including nicotine replacement gum.
• Unable to provide written informed consent.
• Impaired vision that is not corrected.
• Does not agree to maintain their habitual exercise routine.
• Is not in general good health on the basis of medical history.
• Unwilling to chew gum for 3 times a day for 12 weeks.
• Unwilling to maintain an intermittent fasting diet regime.
• Unwilling to have blood taken.
• History of or are currently diagnosed with a significant psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, anxiety, PTSD).
• Subject has any neurological disorder that could produce cognitive deterioration (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke).
• History of traumatic brain injury, stroke or any other medical conditions causing cognitive impairment.
• Has uncontrolled epilepsy or is prone to fainting.
• Participated in a weight management drug trial in previous 3 months.
• Has undergone bariatric surgery.
• Known or suspected of alcohol abuse defined as >14 drinks per week (1 drink = 1 pint of beer, 1 large glass of wine or 50ml spirit).
• Gastrointestinal or liver disease.
• Subject has a sleep disorder or an occupation where sleep during the overnight hours is irregular.
• Subjects taking the following prescription medications: Donepezil (Aricept), Galantamine (Reminyl), Rivastigmine (Exelon), Tacrine (Cognex), Bethanechol (Urecholine), Memantine (Namenda) Selegiline (Eldepryl) or any other medication for cognitive impairment.
• Subject has a known sensitivity to the study product.
• Individual has a condition the chief investigator believes would interfere with his or her ability to provide informed consent, comply with the study protocol, might confound the interpretation of study results or put the subject at undue risk.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Intermittent Energy Restriction; Dietary intervention: Intermittent energy restriction	Behavioral: Intermittent Energy Restriction; Dietary advice to follow a 5:2 diet.
EXPERIMENTAL: Chewing; Mastication intervention: chewing	Behavioral: Chewing; Asked to chew 1 piece of gum for 10 minutes 3 times a day.
EXPERIMENTAL: Chewing + Intermittent Energy Restriction; Dietary and mastication intervention: Intermittent energy restriction and chewing	Behavioral: Chewing + Intermittent Energy Restriction; Dietary advice to follow a 5:2 diet. Asked to chew 1 piece of gum for 10 minutes 3 times a day.
NO_INTERVENTION: Control; No intervention: Control

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Serum Klotho concentration	Anti-ageing longevity protein	Baseline
Serum Klotho concentration	Anti-ageing longevity protein	Day 42
Serum Klotho concentration	Anti-ageing longevity protein	Day 84
Mnemonic Similarity Task	Neurogenesis-associated cognition	Baseline
Mnemonic Similarity Task	Neurogenesis-associated cognition	Day 42

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body weight		Baseline
Waist circumference		Baseline
Body weight		Day 42
Body weight		Day 84
Body fat percentage		Baseline
Body fat percentage		Day 42
Body fat percentage		Day 84
Body Mass Index		Baseline
Body Mass Index		Day 42
Body Mass Index		Day 84
Waist circumference		Day 42
Waist circumference		Day 84
Hip circumference		Baseline
Hip circumference		Day 42
Hip circumference		Day 84
Patient Health Questionnaire	Questionnaire	Baseline
Patient Health Questionnaire	Questionnaire	Day 42
Patient Health Questionnaire	Questionnaire	Day 84
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale	Questionnaire - Scale can be scored from 20 (normal) to 80 (extreme anxiety levels). The total score is reported.	Baseline
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale	Questionnaire	Day 42
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale	Questionnaire	Day 84
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	Questionnaire	Baseline
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	Questionnaire	Day 42
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index	Questionnaire	Day 84
Plasma glucose concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma glucose concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma glucose concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Cholesterol	Fasting	Baseline
Cholesterol	Fasting	Day 42
Cholesterol	Fasting	Day 84
Triglycerides	Fasting	Baseline
Triglycerides	Fasting	Day 42
Triglycerides	Fasting	Day 84
High Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Baseline
High Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Day 42
High Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Day 84
Low Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Baseline
Low Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Day 42
Low Density Lipoprotein	Fasting	Day 84
Total/HDL Cholesterol Ratio	Fasting	Baseline
Total/HDL Cholesterol Ratio	Fasting	Day 42
Total/HDL Cholesterol Ratio	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma adiponectin concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma adiponectin concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma adiponectin concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma leptin concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma leptin concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma leptin concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma beta-hydroxybutrate concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma beta-hydroxybutrate concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma beta-hydroxybutrate concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma total cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma total cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma total cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma LDL cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma LDL cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma HDL cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma HDL cholesterol concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma triglyceride concentration	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma triglyceride concentration	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma triglyceride concentration	Fasting	Day 84
Plasma total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio	Fasting	Baseline
Plasma total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio	Fasting	Day 42
Plasma total cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio	Fasting	Day 84

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Adverse events	Baseline until endpoint: Day 84

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King's College London
• Collaborators: Medical Research Council; Mars, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sandrine Thuret, PhD, King's College London

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Murphy T, Dias GP, Thuret S. Effects of diet on brain plasticity in animal and human studies: mind the gap. Neural Plast. 2014;2014:563160. doi: 10.1155/2014/563160. Epub 2014 May 12.
• Witte AV, Fobker M, Gellner R, Knecht S, Floel A. Caloric restriction improves memory in elderly humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jan 27;106(4):1255-60. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808587106. Epub 2009 Jan 26.
• Akazawa Y, Kitamura T, Fujihara Y, Yoshimura Y, Mitome M, Hasegawa T. Forced mastication increases survival of adult neural stem cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Int J Mol Med. 2013 Feb;31(2):307-14. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2012.1217. Epub 2012 Dec 18.
• Smith, N., Miquel-Kergoat, S. & Thuret, S., 2016. The impact of mastication on cognition: Evidence for intervention and the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Nutrition and Aging, 3(2-4), pp.115-123

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): April 18, 2018
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): March 23, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): March 23, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 6, 2018
• First Posted (ACTUAL): March 8, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): February 18, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intermittent fasting; Mastication; Klotho; Adult hippocampal neurogenesis; Pattern separation; Recognition memory
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: Change 2018

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No