Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that is caused by abnormal brain changes that can ultimately lead to a decline in cognitive abilities severe enough to impair daily life (What is dementia?). Ketogenic diet was originally used to treat epilepsy in the past and has shown to be effective in treating neurologic diseases (Davis, 2020).

In a recent study pushed on February 23, 2021, researchers studied the effects of ketogenic diet on Alzheimer’s disease (McKhann, 2020). They conducted a randomized experiment to see if a 12-week ketogenic diet can improve cognition, daily function, or quality of life. In the experiment, they randomly assigned patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease to either a ketogenic diet or a usual diet supplemented with low-fat healthy-eating guidelines.

Results showed that those who were assigned to the ketogenic diet group showed higher rates of retention, adherence, and safety than those who were assigned to a usual diet group. Furthermore, the ketogenic diet group saw a larger decrease in weight, body mass index, and HbA1C. Overall, those who followed a ketogenic diet plan showed improved daily function and quality of life.

It is important to keep in mind that further studies need to be conducted but the above study shows that ketogenic diet may prove to be effective in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

(Disclaimer)

The content of this article is intended to provide a general information and knowledge on the subject matter. The views expressed in newsletters, articles, and blogs in the i-SENS USA website are not necessarily those of i-SENS Incorporated, i-SENS USA Incorporated or our publishers. Medical or nutritional information on i-SENS USA website is not intended to replace professional medical advice – you should always consult a specialist with any questions about your specific circumstances.