Fasting and the Brain: The Latest Research With Dr. Valter Longo | Live Talk Being Patient

Many people are trying fasting for better health—but few understand what’s actually happening inside the body, and what (if anything) the evidence suggests about brain health, Alzheimer’s risk, inflammation, and metabolism. In this Being Patient Brain Talks interview, Deborah Kan speaks with Professor Valter Longo (USC)—a leading researcher on fasting and longevity and the founder of the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD)—about what fasting does biologically, why some people feel a “reset,” and what research is showing (and not yet showing) about fasting and Alzheimer’s disease. In this conversation, we cover: -What happens in the body during a fasting-mimicking diet and why it can improve insulin sensitivity -How fasting may trigger cellular “cleanup” processes such as autophagy -Why the brain may shift fuel sources toward ketones during fasting -What Longo’s lab has observed in animal models related to neuroinflammation -The status of ongoing human clinical research (including a trial using monthly fasting-mimicking cycles) -Why fasting is not universally beneficial—and how overly aggressive fasting can backfire -Practical guidance: the “baseline” fasting window Longo suggests for many people and how often some may consider structured fasting cycles (under medical guidance) Who this video is for: -People interested in fasting and brain health -Anyone navigating a family history of Alzheimer’s -Viewers curious about the links between metabolic health, diabetes risk, and dementia -Caregivers and patients looking for evidence-based context (not hype) Important note This interview is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Fasting may not be appropriate for everyone—especially older adults, people with chronic illness, or anyone at risk of malnutrition. Consult a qualified clinician before making major dietary changes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved watching this Live Talk, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/ Follow Being Patient: Twitter:   / being_patient_   Instagram:   / beingpatientvoices   Facebook:   / beingpatientalzheimers   LinkedIn:   / being-patient   Being Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://www.beingpatient.com/category... ---------------- Table of Contents 0:00 Introduction how fasting impacts the brain 0:50 Prolon fasting and what's happening in a fasting-mimicking diet 3:30 Human's biological history with fasting 5:34 What happens when we do short-term fasts? 7:06 Valter Longo's latest research on fasting and the brain 10:30 Neuroinflammation and the fasting-mimicking diet 13:42 Ketosis and fasting— what's happening in the brain 17:46 Fasting diets and improving longevity 20:57 Advice for people considering short-term fasting 24:00 Life-span increase in Valter Longo's mouse study 24:45 Should short-term fasting be part of our lifestyle? 29:03 Are there different outcomes for men and women with fasting? 29:58 The future of fasting and longevity research 32:26 Should people with Alzheimer's risk consider fasting? 35:31 How often should you do a fasting-mimicking diet? 40:31 What's next for Valter Longo's research