The Effect of Fasting During Ramadan as One of the Most Important Indicators of Spiritual Health on the Cognitive Health of Volunteers

Chronic stress can reduce cognitive functions including short-term memory. Regulating caloric intake reduces the effects of chronic stress. Fasting, which is an important feature of spiritual health, is one of the ways to control calorie intake.

Twenty volunteers (6 females and 14 males) were included in the study after the initial examination and ensuring that there was no mental or underlying illness. The passat test was taken two days before Ramadan. The variables are the variables of general mental health, reaction speed, constant attention, cognitive error, and mental fatigue. Saliva samples were taken to determine the level of cortisol and the weight of the volunteers was recorded. The same tests were performed two days after Ramadan.

Saliva concentration of all individuals at the beginning of Ramadan was lower than at the end (P<0.05). General mental health of individuals increased after Ramadan (P<0.05). Also, response time, continuous attention, cognitive error, and mental fatigue improved after Ramadan compared to before, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). The participants' weight had decreased by 1400±200 g at the end of Ramadan.

This study showed that despite the increase in cortisol concentration due to fasting, all cognitive indicators in fasting people had improved and, therefore, Islamic fasting as an important indicator of spiritual health can help improve cognitive health.