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Yes, the literature suggests fasting and caloric restriction stimulate autophagy.

In collaboration with the lab of Dr. Wendy Lynch at the University of Virginia, we found that exercise initiated during early, but not late abstinence from cocaine, reduced cocaine-seeking behavior. This effect was strongly associated with dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) Grm5 expression (gene encoding metabotropic glutamate receptor 5), and modestly associated with Grin1 and Bdnf-IV expression. Activation of Glu5 in the dmPFC during early abstinence mimicked the efficacy of early-initiated exercise. However, our results suggest there may be redundancy in the mechanisms through which exercise reduces cocaine-seeking. We are now tracking all gene changes in this model.

I do not have any connection with these studies.

No, we have not studied this.

I am aware of two pilot clinical trials in healthy humans. One involved a periodic diet that mimics fasting (five days of caloric restriction per month for three months). The other followed volunteers who reduced their caloric intake by 15% over two years. These have shown that dietary restriction decreases the levels of systemic biomarkers of ageing and lowers the levels of multiple risk factors for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, supporting the notion that dietary restriction increases health span in humans. See: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5886711/ and

Genetic effects involve an alteration of DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes do not alter DNA sequence and are reversible.

My understanding is that the Överkalix study tracked regional harvest statistics, grain prices and other local records as an indicator of food intake. They kept livestock (pigs and cattle), ate salmon, but a good harvest provided enough barley and rye to get them and their animals through a six-month winter. In years of poor harvest/crop failure, residents of Överkalix hunted small birds and ate bark-bread (made from the inner bark of fir trees).

This article reviews many of the research studies of epigenetics and aging: .