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How Does Fasting Affect Cognition? An Updated Systematic Review (2013–2020)

  • Nutrition and the Brain (K Ohla, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The goal of this review was to provide an update on the literature examining how voluntary, temporary abstention from eating impacts cognitive function.

Recent Findings

We evaluated peer-reviewed articles published between August 2013 and January 2021 that assessed adults, included a measure of cognitive functioning with neutral stimuli, and compared individuals in a fasted state to individuals in a fed state (either within- or between-subject designs). Nineteen articles (21 studies) met inclusion criteria. Sample sizes, fasting methods, and tasks varied across studies. Review of studies indicated that fasting was associated with deficits in cognitive functioning; few studies indicated a benefit in cognitive functioning following a single voluntary fast.

Summary

The heterogeneity and rarity of available studies limits the conclusions that can be drawn. Several crucial psychosocial and sociodemographic moderators remain unexplored. Recommendations for future work are discussed.

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Notes

  1. The Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) [28] is a standardized assessment battery that is frequently used in studies of executive functioning; we included it by name in order to capture studies that employed it to examination cognitive performance.

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY, USA

    Erik M. Benau

  2. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Amanda Makara, Natalia C. Orloff, Eleanor Benner & C. Alix Timko

  3. University College London, London, UK

    Lucy Serpell

  4. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    C. Alix Timko

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  1. Erik M. Benau
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Benau, E.M., Makara, A., Orloff, N.C. et al. How Does Fasting Affect Cognition? An Updated Systematic Review (2013–2020). Curr Nutr Rep 10, 376–390 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-021-00370-4

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