Figure 3.

The potential therapeutic effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on vascular dementia (VaD). IF provides multifaceted benefits that can counteract the pathology of VaD. One major risk factor for VaD is aging, and IF is known to slows down this process. The protective effects of IF extend to other risk factors such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus by improving lipid metabolism, reducing blood pressure, and improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, respectively. Moreover, IF reduces inflammation, preserves the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and white matter (WM) integrity, and promotes neurogenesis. These diverse effects collectively place IF as a promising therapeutic approach against VaD.