The ketogenic diet for Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment: Can it help? - the evidence
This guide is written by Anne Mullens and was last updated on September 9, 2022. It was medically reviewed by Dr. Michael Tamber, MD on January 26, 2022.
The guide contains scientific references. You can find these in the notes throughout the text, and click the links to read the peer-reviewed scientific papers. When appropriate we include a grading of the strength of the evidence, with a link to our policy on this. Our evidence-based guides are updated at least once per year to reflect and reference the latest science on the topic.
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Although the brain always needs some glucose, researchers have shown that during extended fasting or strict ketogenic eating, ketones can be used to meet up to 70% of the brain’s energy requirement:
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Regarding this trial, Dr. Ede said, “While more studies are needed, this suggests that the diet performed as well or better in people with mild Alzheimer’s Disease than any of the currently available Alzheimer’s medicines. If a new drug intervention had achieved that degree of improvement, people would be jumping up and down with excitement.”
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