Challenging oneself intermittently to improve health

Abstract

Humans and their predecessors evolved in environments where they were challenged intermittently with: 1) food scarcity; 2) the need for aerobic fitness to catch/kill prey and avoid or repel attackers; and 3) exposure to biological toxins present in foodstuffs. Accordingly, cells and organ systems acquired and retained molecular signaling and metabolic pathways through which the environmental challenges enhanced the functionality and resilience of the cells and organisms. Within the past 60 years there has been a precipitous diminution of such challenges in modern societies because of the development of technologies that provide a continuous supply of energy-dense processed foods and that largely eliminate the need for physical exertion. As a consequence of the modern 'couch potato' lifestyle, signaling pathways that mediate beneficial effects of environmental challenges on health and disease resistance are disengaged, thereby rendering people vulnerable to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Reversal of the epidemic of diseases caused by unchallenging lifestyles will require a society-wide effort to re-introduce intermittent fasting, exercise and consumption of plants containing hormetic phytochemicals into daily and weekly routines.

Keywords: brain function; exercise; hormesis; intermittent fasting.

FIGURE 1.

Illustration of the simple fundamental concept that optimal health is promoted by intermittent challenges (mild stressors). Cells in the organ, in this case the brain, respond adaptively by enhancing their ability to function and resist disease.

FIGURE 2.

Mechanisms by which the intermittent challenges of running, intermittent fasting and ingestion of hormetic phytochemicals may protect cells against injury and disease. This example focuses on the brain. See text and the following references for further information: Mattson and Cheng, 2006; Stranahan and Mattson, 2012; Mattson, 2012a; Longo and Mattson, 2014.

FIGURE 3.

Age and sex structure of the U. S. population in the years 2010, 2030 and 2050. Because of advances in the early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers, many individuals who would have previously died when they were 40–60 years old are living into their 70s and 80s. However, those who live into their 70s and 80s are at high risk for stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, there are no effective treatments for stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Source: Vincent and Velkoff, 2010.