Cortical thickness, neurocognitive, and body composition effects of fasting during Ramadan.
This study examined how Ramadan fasting impacts the body structure, physiological processes, and mental abilities of healthy individuals. Assessments were conducted at two points in time: one week prior to Ramadan and two weeks following the fast’s end. The participants were twelve healthy men, averaging 34.3 years in age and a body mass index of 26.26 kg/m². Their body composition was evaluated through bioelectrical impedance analysis. They underwent neurocognitive tests, such as the stop signal task, pattern recognition memory task, and spatial working memory strategy, in addition to T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Findings showed a notable reduction in body weight, fat-free mass, trunk fat-free mass, and trunk predicted muscle mass post-Ramadan fasting. Other measurements of body composition remained unchanged. There were no significant differences in the latency of stop signal reaction time and pattern recognition memory task performance before and after fasting. Importantly, performance on the spatial working memory strategy task significantly enhanced post-fasting. No significant changes were observed in cortical thickness across the whole brain after fasting. A significant relationship was identified between the left amygdala and spatial working memory strategy performance, as well as between body fat and brain segmentation volume. The preliminary data indicate that Ramadan fasting contributes to weight loss, a decrease in fat-free mass, and cognitive function enhancement.
Year: 2019
