http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15123336
Abstract
Glucose
is the brain's principal energy substrate. In Alzheimer's disease (AD),
there appears to be a pathological decrease in the brain's ability to
use glucose. Neurobiological evidence suggests that ketone bodies are an
effective alternative energy substrate for the brain. Elevation of
plasma ketone body levels through an oral dose of medium chain
triglycerides (MCTs) may improve cognitive functioning in older adults
with memory disorders. On separate days, 20 subjects with AD or mild
cognitive impairment consumed a drink containing emulsified MCTs or
placebo. Significant increases in levels of the ketone body
beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OHB) were observed 90 min after treatment
(P=0.007) when cognitive tests were administered. beta-OHB elevations
were moderated by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype (P=0.036). For 4+
subjects, beta-OHB levels continued to rise between the 90 and 120 min
blood draws in the treatment condition, while the beta-OHB levels of 4-
subjects held constant (P<0.009). On cognitive testing, MCT treatment
facilitated performance on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment
Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) for 4- subjects, but not for 4+
subjects (P=0.04). Higher ketone values were associated with greater
improvement in paragraph recall with MCT treatment relative to placebo
across all subjects (P=0.02). Additional research is warranted to
determine the therapeutic benefits of MCTs for patients with AD and how
APOE-4 status may mediate beta-OHB efficacy.
Thanks for the post, it was very informative.
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