Effects of time-restricted feeding on brain oxidative stress, locomotor activity, and antioxidant defenses in aged Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Physical function declines with age, often accompanied by oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a promising dietary intervention to slow aging and promote health. This study examined the effects of TRF on brain oxidative stress in aged Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established model organism for aging and neurodegeneration. Our experimental design included ad libitum feeding (control) and fasting protocols (8 and 12 h) of aged flies. The brain locomotor activity, oxidative stress, and antioxidant gene expression were then determined in the control and experimental groups. Our findings showed that TRF improves locomotor activity in aging organisms, suggesting a link between feeding patterns and behavioral outcomes. TRF also reduced oxidative stress by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity. Additionally, TRF upregulated antioxidant genes such as SOD and CAT, demonstrating its ability to modulate cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. TRF is a promising non-pharmacological approach to brain health and age-related oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster. These findings suggest that TRF may be an effective dietary intervention to improve aging trajectories and reduce age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Significance statement

The findings in this study advance the sub-discipline of neuroprotection by demonstrating that time-restricted feeding significantly reduces brain oxidative stress and enhances antioxidant defenses, suggesting its potential as a non-pharmacological intervention for mitigating age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.