Dementia is a highly prevalent chronic neuropsychiatric syndrome globally and is accompanied by memory deficit and cognitive dysfunction, which ultimately result in disability or limitations in the activities of daily living.1 The population with dementia is rapidly increasing compared to those having other diseases and, based on a clinical report, the number of individuals with dementia is projected to reach approximately 66 million by 2030.2 Dementia can be commonly classified into 2 types: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).3 AD is characterized by an onset with a progressive course with memory loss and visuospatial functions that leads to global cognitive impairment,4 whereas VaD is markedly characterized by vascular changes and its onset is described as being a less gradual progression compared to AD, which involves a step-by-step cognitive decline.5 The neuropathologic features of these diseases include neuronal loss, atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes, severe memory loss, and language impairments.6 AD is degenerative and incurable, while VaD is reversible or temporary. AD patients mainly have difficulty recalling recent events or new information and have more severe troubles with memory loss and communication than do individuals with VaD. VaD occurs as a result of a lack of adequate oxygen transfer to the brain and ultimately leads to neuronal cell death. One study demonstrated that VaD patients are more impaired than AD patients in the areas of attention and visual construction tasks.7 Also, several studies have suggested that memory function and temporal lobe function are mainly impaired in AD, whereas frontal lobe function impairment is predominant in VaD.8 AD accounts for more than 60% of cases of dementia in older individuals and is characterized by the deposition of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, representing the most frequent type of dementia worldwide.9 The excessive accumulation of senile plagues composed of Aβ peptide and the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins trigger neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, and cognitive decline.10 VaD is accompanied by cognitive impairment, is the second most prevalent type of dementia, and is attributable to cerebrovascular pathology.11 Cognitive impairment in VaD is directly correlated with the suppression of cerebral blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular complications,12 leading to an increase of BBB permeability from neurotoxic substances and the increase of amyloid deposition.13 The impairment of cerebrovascular function triggers excessive Aβ deposition and the early opening of the BBB.14

According to previous studies, dementia is also related to metabolic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes15 as a result of various risk factors related to cognitive decline. With respect to the relationship between dietary pattern(s) and the onset of dementia, many studies to date have investigated therapeutic approaches for preventing dementia using dietary regulation to support diet's positive role in mitigating memory decline in patients with dementia.16 Calorie restriction achieved by altering dietary patterns results in weight loss and ultimately improves metabolic and cognitive function by regulating lipid metabolism and improving glucose metabolism, inflammation, and insulin resistance.17 Previous studies have reported that caloric restriction has demonstrated neuroprotective effects on neuroinflammation and cognitive function.18 In particular, intermittent fasting as a method of dietary caloric restriction has been shown to more effective in reducing weight and fat mass versus continuous calorie restriction.19

Intermittent fasting is not a type of diet but instead is a pattern of eating. Its success more so relies on when one eats rather than what one eats. There are several different methods of intermittent fasting: for example, well-known methods include the Leangains protocol, which involves eating for eight hours and fasting for 16 hours between feedings; the eat-stop-eat protocol, which involves fasting for 24 hours, once a week; and the 5:2 diet, which involves consuming only 500 calories on 2 nonconsecutive days of the week and then normally eating on the other 5 days.20 Intermittent fasting has been highlighted as a promising method of calorie restriction, in that modulation of the circadian cycle can more effectively regulate the function of the hypothalamus, which controls appetite, energy metabolism, and the inflammatory response.21 In addition, intermittent fasting has demonstrated neuroprotective effects, a reduction of neuroinflammation, and an improvement in redox status and promotes an increase in the production of neurotrophic factors, leading to increased neurogenesis and improvement in mitochondrial function.22 Furthermore, intermittent fasting improves cognitive dysfunction and the dysregulation of energy metabolism and dyslipidemia in patients with AD.23 Another study reported that intermittent fasting protected against brain damage by restoring aquaporin-4 polarity in AD,24 while a recent investigation indicated that intermittent fasting leads to increases in ketone body levels in the blood and continuously supports neuroprotective effects by regulating the activity of β-hydroxybutyrate in AD.25 Herein, we review recent evidence regarding the effects of intermittent fasting on dementia and discuss the therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting to prevent the onset of dementia and attenuate neuropathology.

We reviewed the effects of intermittent fasting on dementia based on previous significant findings. We focused on the therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting in view of known risk factors for dementia, including neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, vascular dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neurogenesis (Fig. 1). A previous study has reported that chronic intermittent fasting improves cognitive dysfunction.53 Another recent study demonstrated that intermittent fasting inhibits hippocampal neuronal damage against oxidative stress and, ultimately, suppresses memory deficits.54 A separate investigation suggested that intermittent fasting ameliorates memory deficits by controlling inflammatory responses.55 However, although there is much evidence available to support the positive effect of intermittent fasting on cognitive decline in dementia, the mechanisms involved in the fasting process and occurrence of memory deficit remains unclear. We reviewed related mechanisms regarding the therapeutic potential of intermittent fasting in dementia. We suggest that the application of intermittent fasting may be an effective dietary therapy for preventing the onset and/or suppressing the development of dementia.