What if the key to protecting brain energy, and potentially delaying Alzheimer’s disease, lies in changing how we fuel our bodies?
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet may help protect brain health in people with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s. In a new study using mice with the APOE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s, the team discovered that females fed a ketogenic diet showed improved brain energy and healthier gut bacteria compared with mice eating a higher-carb diet.
“When we eat carbs, our brains convert the glucose into fuel, but those with the APOE4 gene — particularly females — struggle to convert the glucose into brain energy, and this can lead to cognitive decline down the road,” said doctoral student Kira Ivanich. “By switching to a keto diet, ketones are produced and used as an alternative fuel source. This may decrease the chance of developing Alzheimer’s by preserving the health of brain cells.”
The findings, published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, suggest that keto-related changes in metabolism could help support brain function in people whose cells are less efficient at processing glucose.
“Instead of expecting one solution to work for everyone, it might be better to consider a variety of factors, including someone’s genotype, gut microbiome, gender and age,” said Ai-Ling Lin, professor of radiology and neurology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. “Since the symptoms of Alzheimer’s — which tend to be irreversible once they start — usually appear after age 65, the time to be thinking about preserving brain health is well before then.”
While the research was conducted in mice, the team hopes to eventually test similar diet-based interventions in humans, particularly those with the APOE4 gene. The work reflects a growing area of research known as precision nutrition, which tailors diet strategies to individual biology.
The study also highlights the gut-brain connection. Mice on the ketogenic diet had more diverse gut bacteria, which may help reduce inflammation and improve communication between the gut and brain, a pathway increasingly linked to cognitive health.
For Lin, the research underscores how dietary timing and composition may one day be part of early prevention efforts for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging.