Effects of ketogenic diet on cognitive impairment in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lining Xi, Junli Wan, Yan Hua et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of ketogenic diet (KD) on cognitive impairment in older adults, analyzing 12 randomized controlled trials with 707 participants. The study found that KD-related dietary strategies significantly improved overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.34, p < 0.01), particularly in memory and language functions, while also enhancing ketone body production.
Key findings
- KD-related dietary strategies improved overall cognitive function (SMD = 0.34, p < 0.01).
- Significant improvements in memory were observed (SMD = 0.53, p = 0.01).
- Language function also showed significant enhancement (SMD = 0.43, p = 0.002).
- KD increased acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, indicating effective ketone production.
Why it matters
Cognitive impairment in older adults can lead to significant functional decline. This study suggests that ketogenic dietary strategies may offer a potential intervention to improve cognitive outcomes, which could alleviate care burdens associated with cognitive decline.