Dietary Habits Improve Cognition in Alzheimer’s and Dementia

The University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has initiated a research to examine the impact of two dietary habits — a ketogenic diet and a heart-healthy diet — on the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment.

“In this study, we’re hoping to improve cognition,” said Russell Swerdlow, M.D., director of the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and principal investigator for the study. “The goal is to try to determine if these diets help people, to what extent they may help people, and what mechanisms are at play.

Making behavioral adjustments
The Therapeutic Diets in Alzheimer’s Disease trial is for persons aged 50 to 90 who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

The term “diet” does not suggest a goal of weight loss in the context of this study, however individuals may experience weight fluctuations, according to Jessica Keller, M.S., a registered dietitian and study coordinator. The emphasis is on implementing behavioral changes that can improve the brain by following any of these two diets, or “eating patterns,” as Keller refers to them.

Participants in the study will be randomized at random to either the ketogenic eating pattern or the heart-healthy Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet. Every participant must have a study partner. They will follow their designated eating regimen for three months. Participants get a monthly stipend for groceries as well as reimbursement for study visits. They will also meet with a qualified dietician on a regular basis and have 24-hour access to one for nutrition education and counseling. All participants will be tested before and after the eating invention to determine the effectiveness of each eating pattern, which will involve cognitive tests, bloodwork, and brain scans.

Two dietary habits that may benefit brain health
The ketogenic eating pattern — a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet with moderate protein intake — has the potential to boost brain function by offering an alternate energy source for the brain. The brain’s consumption of glucose, a crucial source of energy, is reduced in Alzheimer’s patients. When people adopt a ketogenic diet, the liver converts the food’s high fat content into ketone bodies, chemicals that can help feed the brain’s neurons and potentially improve cognition. Ketogenic diets have also been shown to lower inflammation, which can have a positive effect on the brain.

Furthermore, after three months, a small pilot research done by the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center found that the ketogenic diet improved cognitive test results in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The degree of improvement varied, but the average rise in cognitive test score was greater than the average increase linked with some existing memory drugs, suggesting that dietary changes may outperform those medications.

The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes diet is a heart-healthy eating pattern used in the study. This low-fat eating pattern limits saturated fat and sodium and emphasizes fiber intake with lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. “We wanted a diet that made sense for Alzheimer’s, and this fits with the maxim that ‘what’s good for the heart is good for the brain,’ said Swerdlow.

The Therapeutic Way of Life Changes in dietary habits boost insulin sensitivity, allowing the brain to better utilize glucose for energy. It can help lower inflammation, like the ketogenic diet, because it is high in antioxidants.

“We believe that following either of these eating patterns will be beneficial, and we’d like to know if one is more beneficial than the other,” said Keller. “That’s a great thing about our study.”

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