Effects of ketogenic diet on cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of cognitive impairment, affecting almost 25% of the elderly over 80 years old. When carbohydrate consumption is low, the body can use ketones (acetoacetate and b-hydroxybutyric acid) for energy instead of glucose, providing energy for the brain by oxidative decomposition of fatty acids.

Noting that many studies have demonstrated that ketones are more easily absorbed by the brain than glucose in patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD, Ronga et al (2024) systematically reviewed the impact of ketogenic diets (KDs) on cognitive function in AD, evaluating ten randomised controlled trials involving 691 patients with AD. There were 357 participants in the intervention group and 334 participants in the control group, with KD duration interventions ranging from a minimum of three months to a maximum of fifteen months.

The meta-analysis showed that KD could effectively improve the mental state of the elderly and ‘can indeed enhance the cognitive function of AD patients.’ Ketones, as an effective strategy for treating AD, assert the authors, act by improving brain energy metabolism, and thus hold significant clinical importance for the management of AD. ‘Adjusting dietary habits to improve patients’ mental state,' they conclude, ‘is a healthy, convenient, and feasible approach.’