Understanding the link between ketogenic diets and Alzheimer’s disease

In this paper, researchers from the University of Regensburg in Germany summarized the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials which evaluated the efficacy of ketogenic diets in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The review was published in the journal Food Science and Human Wellness.

• AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a decline in cognitive functions.
• Cerebral glucose uptake and metabolism deteriorate in patients with AD; this precedes the onset of clinical symptoms of AD.
• The decline in glucose metabolism became the target of therapeutic intervention and ketogenic diets became the subject of several studies.
• Ketone bodies are produced by the body during glucose deprivation and metabolized by the brain when glucose utilization is impaired.
• Administration of ketone esters to increase the supply of ketone bodies has been studied for its potential.
• Ketogenic diets increase the production of ketone bodies for the brain to metabolize instead.
• Both the direct administration of ketone bodies and the use of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet were effective in animal models of AD and clinical trials with AD patients.
• The mechanism underlying the efficacy of ketogenic diets is still unknown, but evidence suggests it is due to the normalization of aberrant energy metabolism.

In conclusion, the researchers think that ketogenic diets are a promising treatment for AD and they hope that further clinical investigations will be done to assess their efficacy.

Alzheimers.news has more info on the latest findings regarding this neurodegenerative disease.

Read the full review at this link.

Journal Reference:

Lange KW, Lange KM, Makulska-Gertruda E, Nakamura Y, Reissmann A, Kanaya S, Hauser J. KETOGENIC DIETS AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Food Science and Human Wellness. March 2017;6(1):1–9. DOI: 10.1016/j.fshw.2016.10.003