A study reveals that sending signals of fasting to the brain of mice can help their body combat inflammation.
In the study, UK scientists at EARA member the University of Manchester and the University of Aberdeen, developed a way to switch on a group of brain cells (AgRP neurons), which are responsible for generating the feeling of hunger – although the mice were not actually fasting.
The team then discovered that this could result in the generation of anti-inflammatory effects and they now hope to develop therapies that can exploit this result.
Senior of author Dr Giuseppe D’ Agostino, at Manchester, said: “Though it can be seen as paradoxical, the beneficial effects of fasting during sickness are well known."
“We have now discovered that the brain plays an important role in this mechanism.”
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