The Institut Pasteur has made a groundbreaking discovery about autophagy, the cellular recycling process stimulated by intermittent fasting, which helps eliminate harmful protein aggregates linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers successfully recreated this process in the lab by identifying the protein scaffolding that forms "cellular trash bags," paving the way for potential drugs that could activate autophagy and slow age-related diseases.
While intermittent fasting, particularly the 16/8 method, has been shown to provide health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer, extreme fasting methods like the 5:2 diet or prolonged fasting can be harmful and should only be attempted with medical supervision.
This breakthrough not only deepens our understanding of cellular cleansing but also offers hope for developing new treatments to combat aging-related illnesses and improve overall health.
