摘要：SummaryLittle is known about the association between meal frequency and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in humans. We tested the hypothesis that low meal frequency (LMF) is associated with reducedin vivoAD pathology in human brain, and additionally investigated the mediation of serum ghrelin, a hunger-related hormone, for the association. A total of 411 non-demented older adults were systematically interviewed to identify their dietary patterns including meal frequency and underwent multi-modal neuroimaging for cerebral beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau deposition, glucose metabolism, and cerebrovascular injury. LMF (less than three meals a day) was significantly associated with lower Aβ deposition compared to high meal frequency (HMF). In addition, both LMF and reduced Aβ deposition were significantly related to elevated serum ghrelin. Our findings suggest that LMF may be related to the lower risk of AD through reduced brain amyloid deposition. Additionally, ghrelin appears mediate the association between LMF and lower amyloid deposition.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Low meal frequency (LMF) relates to lower brain amyloid deposition in human•Ghrelin mediates the association between LMF and lower amyloid deposition•LMF may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by reducing amyloid deposition•This finding may be a clue for food intake-based preventive strategy against ADBiological sciences; Neuroscience; Nutrition.
