It will also help lower cholesterol.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, conducted a study using female rat models, revealing that adopting the ketogenic diet may lead to a significant reduction in blood levels of tau protein—a biomarker associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Published in the journal Aging, the study also observed a decrease in blood lipid levels in rats with Alzheimer’s disease following the keto diet. Elevated cholesterol levels have previously been linked to a heightened risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, prompting researchers to explore preventive measures and treatments for this prevalent condition.
The study aimed to enhance cognitive function, motor skills, and blood lipid profiles, all of which are implicated in Alzheimer’s disease progression.
Dr. Jennifer Rutkowsky, the lead author of the study, highlighted the cognitive deficits and motor function impairments characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. She emphasized the association between elevated blood fatty acids, cholesterol, and Alzheimer’s disease pathology, underscoring the importance of identifying strategies to promote healthy aging.
Previous research in mouse models suggested that the ketogenic diet could improve memory. Rutkowsky and her team sought to investigate the impact of different ketogenic diet regimens—continuous versus intermittent—on Alzheimer’s disease models.
The continuous ketogenic diet involved daily consumption of ketogenic meals, while the intermittent regimen alternated between control and ketogenic meals each day. The goal was to maintain sustained or intermittent elevation of blood ketone levels, respectively.
The study utilized TgF344-AD rat models of Alzheimer’s disease, which exhibit pathological changes akin to those seen in humans with the condition. By employing this rat model, researchers aimed to validate findings across species and bolster confidence in the translational potential of ketogenic diets in Alzheimer’s disease research.
The results suggest that both continuous and intermittent ketogenic diets could offer benefits in terms of reducing tau protein levels and improving blood lipid profiles. However, compliance may be more manageable with intermittent ketosis, offering a practical approach to implementing the diet.
This multi-species approach, combining findings from mouse and rat models, enhances the robustness and applicability of the research, providing valuable insights into the potential therapeutic effects of the ketogenic diet in Alzheimer’s disease.
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