Modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet may reduce cognitive decline
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A modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet appeared to lower the amount of cognitive decline in adults who were at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, a small pilot study showed.
“We know that Alzheimer's disease is associated with disruptions of brain functional networks that precedes clinical presentation and that the default mode network is hit the hardest,” Mohammad I. Kawas, MD, a PhD candidate in the neuroscience program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said during a pre-recorded presentation for the virtual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.
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“Without current disease modifying or preventive therapies, there has been increased focus on alternate approaches, including the ketogenic diet, which supplies auxiliary metallic fuel to the brain and has potential neuroprotective effects,” Kawas said.
Kawas and colleagues analyzed cognitive test results, gray/white matter segmentation and blood oxygen level dependent imaging for resting-state functional connectivity from 10 adults (mean age, 65 years) with normal cognition and subjective memory complaints and eight adults (mean age, 65 years) with mild cognitive impairment. According to Kawas, a previous study involving these participants showed that those who followed the ketogenic diet improved their free and utility data mining test scores.
The researchers asked each participant to adhere to a modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet and then an American Heart Association diet for 6 weeks each in a randomized crossover design. The participants underwent 3T MRI and cognitive testing before and after each diet.
Kawas and colleagues found no detectable differences in default mode network connectivity between the two groups after both diets. However, the modified Mediterranean-ketogenic diet had a more pronounced effect in reducing default mode network hyper-connectivity than the American Heart Association diet in the adults with mild cognitive impairment.
“Our results suggest that a ketogenic intervention may augment aberrant, deform network connectivity patterns in adults at risk for Alzheimer's and lessen cognitive decline,” Kawas said.