Following a ketogenic diet may help prevent the early memory loss caused by Alzheimer's disease, a study in mice has found.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that a molecule key to preventing memory decline, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), increased almost seven-fold in rodents who were fed a diet that imitated a low-carbohydrate, high-fat and moderate protein "keto" diet.
Although the study was carried out using mice, it may provide insight into preventing the early cognitive impairment that precedes Alzheimer's disease in humans.
"The data support the idea that the ketogenic diet in general, and BHB specifically, delays mild cognitive impairment and it may delay full blown Alzheimer's disease," said co-author Gino Cortopassi, a biochemist and pharmacologist. "The data clearly don't support the idea that this is eliminating Alzheimer's disease entirely."
For the study, the scientist gave the mice enough BHB to simulate the benefits of being on the keto diet for seven months. They found that the molecule improved the function of synapses, small structures that connect all nerve cells in the brain.
"When nerve cells are better connected, the memory problems in mild cognitive impairment are improved," said co-author Izumi Maezawa, a professor of pathology.
The mice also showed other cognitive improvements, including in the biochemical pathways linked to memory formation.
The keto diet, which shifts the body's metabolism from using glucose as the main fuel source to burning fat and producing ketones for energy, appeared to benefit females more than males. The diet also resulted in a higher level of BHB in the female mice.
"If these results translated to humans, that could be interesting since females, especially those bearing the ApoE4 gene variant, are at significantly higher risk for Alzheimer's," Cortopassi said.
Certain genes can increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. One of the most significant genetic risk factors is a form of the apolipoprotein E gene called APOE4, although inheriting the gene doesn't definitely mean someone will develop the disease.
A 2017 meta-analysis involving 58,000 research participants found that females with the APOE4 allele had a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease earlier in life than males.
Cortopassi added that BHB is available as a supplement for humans, but there is not yet any research into its benefits on memory for people.
The study was published in the Nature Group journal Communications Biology.
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