The ketogenic diet's impact on mental well-being: Does following a ketogenic lifestyle boost one's happiness levels?
The ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate regimen developed in the 1920s for epilepsy patients, is gaining attention for its potential benefits in mental health, Alzheimer's disease, and weight loss. While the area is still emerging with ongoing research, scientific evidence is mounting in support of its positive effects.
**For Mental Health and Cognitive Function**
Recent studies suggest that the ketogenic diet could enhance brain function even in cognitively healthy individuals. A three-week ketogenic diet in healthy overweight adults increased brain blood flow by 22% and raised levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key protein that supports brain health, by 47% [1].
Preliminary trials and animal studies indicate that ketogenic diets may improve brain signalling abnormalities linked to psychiatric disorders. A Johns Hopkins randomized trial found better memory scores in participants on a modified Atkins (ketogenic) diet compared to a low-fat Mediterranean-style diet after six weeks [5].
A 2020 systematic review concluded that ketosis, achieved by ketogenic diets or ketone supplements, shows promise in improving cognition in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially in individuals without the ApoE4 gene variant [5].
**For Alzheimer’s Disease**
Ketones provide an alternative brain energy source when glucose metabolism is impaired, a common issue in Alzheimer’s. This rationale underpins clinical trials using ketogenic diets for AD.
A 2021 randomized crossover study found that people with mild Alzheimer’s showed improved quality of life and daily function on a modified ketogenic diet compared to a low-fat diet, with good compliance and no increased side effects [2].
Other human studies report symptom improvement in AD and Parkinson’s disease patients following a ketogenic diet, including cognitive and motor symptoms, although long-term effects require further study [3].
Research by Dr. Terry Wahls also highlights the ketogenic diet's ability to improve mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress, mechanisms relevant to neurodegenerative disease progression [3].
**For Weight Loss**
In a 2012 study, older adults with mild cognitive impairment on a ketogenic diet lost weight and waist circumference, with improved fasting glucose and insulin levels. Importantly, memory test performance improved most in those with higher blood ketones, linking weight loss with cognitive benefits [2].
Generally, ketogenic diets promote fat oxidation and ketone production by drastically reducing carbohydrates and increasing fats, effectively inducing a metabolic state of ketosis which supports weight loss [1].
In summary, the ketogenic diet has a solid scientific basis for supporting brain health, improving cognitive function in mild Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, and facilitating weight loss. It works by shifting brain fuel metabolism from glucose to ketones, potentially bypassing impaired glucose pathways in neurodegeneration and improving mitochondrial function. However, while promising, the approach remains novel for many clinicians, and long-term human studies are needed to fully establish efficacy and safety across mental health conditions [1][2][3][5].
References: [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7257728/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7676150/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326639/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116038/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7025502/ [6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7025502/ [7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8959401/ [8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4563648/ [9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9298045/ [10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3377408/
Mental health and cognitive function may be supported by the ketogenic diet due to its potential to enhance brain function in cognitively healthy individuals and improve brain signaling abnormalities linked to psychiatric disorders, as suggested by recent studies and preliminary trials. In the realm of nutrition, ketosis, achieved by ketogenic diets or ketone supplements, shows promise in improving mental health by supporting neurotrophic factor production and brain health [1], [5].
In the health-and-wellness sector, scientific evidence is mounting for the benefits of the ketogenic diet in improving mental health, cognitive function, and potentially even delaying the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's, through mechanisms such as mitochondrial function improvement and reduced oxidative stress [3], [5]. This is not only relevant to mental health but also mental-health-related wellness, making it a compelling area of ongoing research in the science field.
