A research group led by Waseda University professor Takuya Chiba (Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute of Applied Brain Sciences) and Isao Shimokawa of the Nagasaki University School of Medicine has published results in Scientific Reports explaining links between dietary restriction and health. This research is seen as a step towards preventing and treating age-related disorders such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

It has long been known that dietary restrictions can extend lifespan in mice, and more recently that they can reduce occurrence of cancer, lifestyle diseases and neurological disorders similar to Alzheimer's. However, the mechanism of the cause-effect was unknown.

Results of the current research point to neuropeptide Y (Npy) as playing a key role in the observed health and longevity outcomes in experiments with mammals.

For the future, these discoveries suggest that medicine which increases Npy levels would aid in treatment of many age-related disorders.

These results are published in Scientific Reports, from Nature Publishing Group, titled "A key role for neuropeptide Y in lifespan extension and cancer suppression via dietary restriction", on 31 March 2014.

# Links

Faculty of Human Sciences http://www.waseda.jp/eng/news14/140401_npy.html