New randomized control study shows benefits of Keto on AD

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circular
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Re: New randomized control study shows benefits of Keto on AD

Post by circular »

I found this quite encouraging as a way to help MCI and AD patients, who have so little available to them. The fact that so many stayed on the modified keto diet is remarkable, and the fact that they show improvements in ADLs and QOL at a mean of only ~1 mmol BHB is great, given that their pathology has been building for decades. A larger study to look for BHB dose dependent changes would be helpful.

They did check ApoE4 status and report:
Alternatively, the trend reversal [cognitive scores] may be explained by the higher prevalence of apolipoprotein E4 carriers among ketogenic diet patients in the second treatment period; ketone energy metabolism may be less beneficial for apolipoprotein E4 carriers [27, 31], although not all studies have shown this [14, 32].
It's quite possible the issue is that ApoE4 MCI and AD patients need a higher mean level of BHB, similarly to how it's thought we need more omega 3s. But in a recent interview (need to find the link), an omega specialist said that as the BBB integrity declines and stunts glucose metabolism, it also stunts ketone metabolism… If I recall correctly. Too much skimming and distractedness lately. At the same time, presumably the BBB of ApoE 3/3 and 3/2, whom it's hypothesized did better on the cognitive scores, is also compromised once they have MCI or AD, so the jury does seem to be out on whether a compromised BBB reduces ketone utilization in the brain?
ApoE 3/4 > Thanks in advance for any responses made to my posts.
Dod
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Re: New randomized control study shows benefits of Keto on AD

Post by Dod »

I also think it is encouraging and it should prompt more studies along the same lines to support what low carb advocates tend to take as a given: at a basic level if memory loss can be caused by a problem accessing enough glucose for fuel, it would be reasonable to assume that supplementing the fuel source in the form of ketones would help.
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