Ketogenic Diet Improves Brain Function
The ketogenic diet was developed in the 1920’s as a medical approach for reducing seizures in cases of pediatric epilepsy. Although we didn’t fully understand the mechanisms on how this worked, it was understood that elevated levels of ketones in the blood correlated with a significant decrease in epileptic episodes. Since then, we have come understand deeper ways in which a ketogenic diet improves brain function.
The ketogenic diet remerged in recent years when people realized they would have more energy and elevated mental acuity when following it. After years of sideways science claiming that the body must have a constant intake of carbohydrate to be healthy, people are discovering the truth.
On top of improved mental performance, the ketogenic diet is now being highlighted as a therapeutic strategy for mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases. Here I am going to break down the benefits and applications of the ketogenic diet for brain-related disorders and just how it improves brain health.
Low-Carb Vs. Ketogenic
Before we get into it, it is important to understand what exactly a ketogenic diet is. If your goal is to employ the ketogenic diet as a healing strategy, it is important to be scientific to improve your chances of success.
Many people think that a ketogenic diet is simply a high-fat, low-carb diet. While this is true, it does not provide the whole picture. The goal of the ketogenic diet is to drop blood sugar so low that the body resorts to fats for energy instead. This means if you eat too many carbs or too little fat, you may not fully shift into ketosis. Consuming too much protein can also prevent a shift into ketosis as excess amino acids are converted into glucose.
Everyone reacts a little differently and so I usually recommend measuring your blood sugar and ketone levels throughout the process. This way you can pinpoint what levels of fat, carbs, and proteins your body thrives on. For more information on this, check out my top tips when following a ketogenic diet.
Health Effects
There are several clinical applications for a ketogenic diet. Before jumping into these, I highly recommend reading about and understanding what happens inside the body when you are burning ketones instead of sugar as your primary source of energy.
Mitochondrial Biogenesis
When it comes down to it, your body needs energy to perform its functions. This energy comes in the form of ATP that is produced primarily by structures called mitochondria that inhabit just about every cell in your body. Cells in certain areas of the body have way more mitochondria than the rest and this reflects the amount of energy they need to function properly.
Among these areas is the brain. By improving the number and energetic output of the mitochondria in your brain, you provide a significantly higher amount of energy. This in of itself, may provide much of the brain boosting benefits (1). Fasting and a ketogenic diet are some of the most promising methods for upregulating mitochondrial biogenesis.
BDNF
BDNF stands for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Its main function is understood to be regulating the growth of neural connections in the brain. Low levels of BDNF have been correlated with mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s, depression, schizophrenia, and Huntington’s disease, making it a target for modern medical therapies (2).
It is thought that fasting or a fasting-mimicking diet (such as a ketogenic diet) have potential for improving neurodegenerative disorders by upregulating BDNF (3). This upregulation of BDNF practically combats neurodegeneration in a way by supporting the continued growth and development of neuronal connections.
Improved Insulin Signaling
Most people today are burning sugar as their primary fuel. In order for sugar to enter the cell to be made into ATP, it requires insulin to transport it. Due to chronic high carb intake, many people develop undesirable blood sugar regulation that starts with a sharp rise in blood sugar and ends with a rapid crash.
This pattern of blood sugar imbalance is highly damaging to the brain which can be clearly observed in cases of congenital hyperinsulinism. A ketogenic diet has been shown to improve insulin signaling and lower the side effects associated with this rollercoaster blood sugar pattern (4).
Less Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is beneficial in small amounts, however in excess it can be very damaging to your mitochondria. Excessive oxidative stress creates inflammation and hampered mitochondrial energy output. Because oxidative stress causes damage on the mitochondrial level, this can negatively impact every cell in your body.
Also, because your brain is so reliant on healthy mitochondria, it is the first to suffer consequences of excess oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress is a natural byproduct of energy production in the mitochondria. Ketone metabolism has been shown to create much lower levels of oxidative stress in comparison to glucose metabolism, effectively lowering inflammation and supporting mitochondrial health (5). Ultimately, this results in improved energy production.
Neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by demyelination, such as multiple sclerosis, are thought to be heavily influenced by chronic inflammation, making the ketogenic diet a desirable therapy for yet another reason.
Glutamate GABA Balance
Glutamate and GABA are two very important neurotransmitters that are responsible for focus and relaxation, respectively. Proper neurological function requires a balanced interplay between these two.
An imbalance in these neurotransmitters, which often manifests as an excess of glutamate, has been associated with brain disorders such as autism, Lou Gehrig’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, and mood disorders. Additionally, those with excess glutamate and low GABA levels will tend to feel anxious, have trouble sleeping and experience brain fog.
Chronically elevated glutamate is highly inflammatory as it continuously overstimulates brain cells. In a healthy person, excess glutamate should be converted into GABA to help balance neural processes. Following a ketogenic diet has been shown to help facilitate this conversion (6). The immediate effects of this are improved focus and lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Omega 3 Favoring
Most people today following the standard American diet are consuming lots of oxidized omega-6 fats and very little omega-3 fats from fish and pastured-raised meats.
Omega-6 fatty acids are utilized in the eicosanoid pathway in the body which is important for producing inflammation. While temporary inflammation is helpful for stimulating healing in the body, an excessive omega-6 level can contribute to chronic inflammation that only causes more problems.
The way I teach a ketogenic diet includes plenty of HEALTHY fats that help bring this ratio back to a balanced level and help lower inflammation. Increasing your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids can lower heart disease risk, improve arthritis, lower cancer risk, and improve brain function (7).
Therapeutic Applications
Now that we understand what goes on in the body when burning fat for fuel, we can start to discuss how a ketogenic diet may be used as a therapy for the sick.
Seizures
The ketogenic diet was originally designed to help lower the instance of seizures in epileptic children so it is not news that it is still helpful for this today. Although the exact mechanisms on how this works are not understood, a ketogenic diet or prolonged fasting have been shown to lower the frequency and severity of seizures in children.
In fact, one study found that out of a group of children that responded to a ketogenic diet, one third of them had a 90% or greater decrease in seizures (8). These benefits can also be derived by simply increasing ketone levels in the body through exogenous sources such as MCT oils and possibly exogenous ketones (9).
Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the cells of the brain becoming insulin resistant. It is believed that once brain cells become insulin resistant, they become highly inflamed due to a lack of energy. People in this state will typically experience a rapid decline in memory formation and retention.
Additionally, many Alzheimer’s sufferers have characteristics of hyper-excitability in the brain which may be due to excessive glutamate.
Ketones do not require insulin to enter the cell and a majority of brain cells have the ability to metabolize ketones. It is because of this that the ketogenic diet has become a potential therapy for helping to combat Alzheimer’s.
A study of 152 humans with Alzheimer’s saw significant improvements in brain function after ketone levels were raised during 90 days of MCT oil supplementation (10). Additionally, several animal studies have demonstrated a similar effect by implementing a ketogenic diet.
Parkinson’s Disease
While we don’t fully understand the mechanisms behind Parkinson’s disease, it has been studied as an energetic disorder. What I mean by this is that mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited ability to produce energy is often a characteristic in Parkinson’s patients.
This metabolic insufficiency puts brain cells at an energetic disadvantage that results in massive production of free radicals. These free radicals cause oxidative stress, which leads to chronic inflammation and damage to the brain tissue.
Because of the ketogenic diet’s ability to improve mitochondrial function and lower inflammation, it is being investigated as a potential treatment.
Consequently, a small and uncontrolled study from 2005 monitored a group of Parkinson’s patients who followed a ketogenic diet for 28-days. At the end of the study, all patients reported an improvement in symptoms ranging from mild to drastic (11).
Although this is not sufficient evidence to declare the ketogenic diet a treatment, the low risk for complications should make it a consideration in these cases.
Migraines
Chronic migraines and headaches are common in today’s society. Many believe that chronic inflammation may be at the root cause of these unpleasant sensations.
Consequently, a ketogenic diet has been shown to lower the frequency and severity of migraines and headaches, potentially by upregulating energy production and lowering inflammation in the brain (12).
Depression
Depression is another mental state that is all too common in our society. While there are emotional factors involved, it can also be a byproduct of neural inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurotoxicity, or glutamate/GABA imbalance.
Many people report a huge boost in their mood when following a ketogenic diet. It is likely that this occurs due to a mitigation of every one of the factors mentioned above. Although a ketogenic diet cannot change emotional trauma, it can help calm and clear your mind to help give you a better chance to do so.
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body that is produced when following a ketogenic diet has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in brain tissues. A 2017 study observed in rats that BHB helped to mitigate stress-induced inflammation in the brain and exhibited anti-depressant activity (13).
Anxiety
As I mentioned earlier in this article, glutamate GABA balance in the brain strongly dictates our ability to balance work and relaxation. If glutamate becomes dominant over GABA, anxiety is commonly reported.
Following a ketogenic diet may improve anxiety by helping support the conversion of excess glutamate into GABA. This is another key way that keto improves brain health.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as concussions can have long lasting negative effects on cognitive function. Chronically elevated blood sugar has been identified as detrimental to recovery from TBI. There is also often an impaired ability to utilize glucose in TBI brain cells.
Providing the brain with ketones during this time has been shown to give the brain energy while improving structure and functionality during the recovery process (14). This is another key way the ketogenic diet improves brain function.
Summary
The ketogenic diet has reemerged as a performance boosting hack for those wanting to be more productive. At the same time, it is emerging as a powerful healing strategy for metabolic, neurodegenerative, and cancerous states in the body.
Additionally, following a ketogenic diet is remarkably safe for most people to implement and improves brain function in a number of ways. So, whether you are battling a brain-related health challenge or just want to improve your mood and focus, a ketogenic diet may be a key component of your healing journey.
If you want to learn how to follow and experience the benefits of the ketogenic diet than check out our complete Ketogenic Diet program here
Sources For This Article Include:
1. Wallace, D. C., Fan, W., & Procaccio, V. (2010). Mitochondrial Energetics and Therapeutics. Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease, 5(1), 297–348. PMID: 20078222
2. Lu, B., Nagappan, G., & Lu, Y. (2014). BDNF and synaptic plasticity, cognitive function, and dysfunction. Handbook of experimental pharmacology (Vol. 220). PMID: 24668467
3. Masino, S. A., & Rho, J. M. (2010). Mechanisms of ketogenic diet action. Epilepsia, 51(SUPPL. 5), 85. PMID: 22787591
4. Maiorana, A., Manganozzi, L., Barbetti, F., Bernabei, S., Gallo, G., Cusmai, R., … Dionisi-Vici, C. (2015). Ketogenic diet in a patient with congenital hyperinsulinism: a novel approach to prevent brain damage. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 10(1), 120. PMID: 26399329
5. Greco, T., Glenn, T. C., Hovda, D. A., & Prins, M. L. (2015). Ketogenic diet decreases oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial respiratory complex activity. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism : Official Journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 1–11. PMID: 26661201
6. Maalouf, M., Rho, J. M., & Mattson, M. P. (2009). The neuroprotective properties of calorie restriction, the ketogenic diet, and ketone bodies. Brain Research Reviews. PMID: 18845187
7. Omega-3 Fatty Acids PMID: 15259529
8. Kossoff, E. H., & Rho, J. M. (2009). Ketogenic Diets: Evidence for Short- and Long-term Efficacy. Neurotherapeutics, 6(2), 406–414. PMID: 19332337
9. Neal, E. G., Chaffe, H., Schwartz, R. H., Lawson, M. S., Edwards, N., Fitzsimmons, G., … Cross, J. H. (2009). A randomized trial of classical and medium-chain triglyceride ketogenic diets in the treatment of childhood epilepsy. Epilepsia, 50(5), 1109–1117. PMID: 19054400
10. Henderson, S. T., Vogel, J. L., Barr, L. J., Garvin, F., Jones, J. J., & Costantini, L. C. (2009). Study of the ketogenic agent AC-1202 in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Nutrition & Metabolism, 6(1), 31. PMID: 19664276
11. Gasior, M., Rogawski, M. A., & Hartman, A. L. (2006). Neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects of the ketogenic diet. Behavioural Pharmacology, 17(5–6), 431–9. PMID: 16940764
12. C., D. L., G., C., & G., S. (2013). Short term improvement of migraine headaches during ketogenic diet: A prospective observational study in a dietician clinical setting. Journal of Headache and Pain. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3620251/
13. Yamanashi, T., Iwata, M., Kamiya, N., Tsunetomi, K., Kajitani, N., Wada, N., … Kaneko, K. (2017). Beta-hydroxybutyrate, an endogenic NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, attenuates stress-induced behavioral and inflammatory responses. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 7677. PMID: 28794421
14. Prins, M. L., & Matsumoto, J. H. (2014). The collective therapeutic potential of cerebral ketone metabolism in traumatic brain injury. Journal of Lipid Research, 55(12), 2450–2457. PMID: 24721741
I am unable to attend the free online event on September 29. Is there any way to get the info
Unfortunately not Cathy. You could purchase access to the entire summit or there is a chance that there will be a replay day when the summit is complete that you can go back and watch, not sure about this though.
Please give us a simple way of actually starting this Ketogenic diet, don’t just keep telling us what it does, and how good it is for that and etc. Good, I am convinced that we would all feel better and think clearer etc; but let’s get down to brass facts: what does a simple ketogentic diet look like????? give us one week example for a modest income. we would all be very grateful to finally get an answer. thank you.
Hey Virginia – here is a helpful article on that: https://drjockers.com/follow-ketogenic-diet/
Dr. Jockers, Thank you as always!
Nice article, and I definitely see your points.
However, are there any long-term studies on the effects of a ketogenic diet?
So far, I haven’t found anything along these lines.
I think that many of the benefits associated with keto can also be accomplished by eating minimally processed whole foods including more than keto-levels of carbohydrates while fasting intermittently. Am I wrong?
I also think that some people are using different qualitative and quantitative definitions of the term ‘ketogenic diet’. And some might actually get into a lot of trouble just eating high fat if they cut out plants with their phytonutrients and fiber to a too great degree and for too long. The fat they consume may be of inferior quality as well.
Thanks!
Hey Heidi, yes there is a lot of healing potential with the ketogenic diet. I do agree that it is a good idea to focus on high quality, nutrient dense sources including healthy fats and non-starchy veggies, herbs and things like lemons and limes.
Read this and want to continue with this. I’m interested in the brain function improvement. Just had a 14 yr anniversary from brain surgery and think kept could help brain function better. Would be interested in study with cognitive tests before and after. I’m 57 yr young.
Yes it is great for improving the brain. Here is another helpful article as well Rosie: https://drjockers.com/dementia-natural-treatment/
Very good article, I think my diet could be considered almost a keto diet. I do eat a lot of fruit and tree nuts, however. I eat tons of berries. I’ve discovered that Black Seed Oil helps my joint issues and my pea brain doesn’t rattle anymore. I used to suffer from BAD headaches, but I got a mini trampoline and I rebound for about ten minutes, no more headache. I wonder who does the wonderful graphics in your articles? Thanks for all the info, you are a generous teacher!
Thanks so much Nora!! Yes, our design team is excellent and we will pass on your compliments! Blessings!
Greetings Dr. Jockers,
I suffer from most symptoms of leaky gut such as difficulty: concentrating, learning new things, remembering old things, applying concepts. I also suffer from achy muscles, achy joints and an overwhelming chronic fatigue. I also suffer from rocesea and eczema. The worst is the ongoing mild depression, moderate anxiety and irritability. After most meals, my stomach feels bloated with a dull achiness that lasts for hours. For several years I have endured all these symptoms but the last couple of years everything has intensified. I am 48 years old and have sought medical help in the last couple of years but all testing yields little to no serious results to justify my symptoms. I have been 55 – 65 pounds overweight most of my adult life. I do fast occasionally for 1-3 days water only for religious purposes and feel temporary relief from most digestive issues. I am considering starting a lifestyle change where I eat the keto way to loose weight but need to tweak it to where I also heal the intestinal permeability issues. Can you recommend a way to fuse both? I will gladly pay your consultation fee and for your program. Thank you for all you do for me and the countless others you have and will continue to help along the way.
So sorry to hear this! I would recommend working with one of our functional health coaches who can customize a specific plan for you: https://drjockers.com/long-distance-coaching/
Lorena, I had almost identical symptoms, including the rosacea. I went to doctor after doctor and
none could find the cause. I found an old doctor (who has since retired) who knew the minute he
saw my plaques that I had a mycoplasm infection. He sent me to a dermatologist who did a Red
Dye test, which was the only culture method that could detect the spirochete at the time.
It was positive for the spirochete that causes Systemic Scleroderma. I’m allergic to all antibiotics
including tetracycline, so a drug free treatment was my solution. I put 1/8 of a tsp of borax in 33
oz purified water and sipped it 3x day, instead of eating. When my husband got home from work
he’d make me some avocado slices with lemon juice and help me get to the tub to soak. My legs
did not bend at the knee or ankle, and I couldn’t walk. Fasting and borax saved my life.
In less than two months I was well, no more joint pain, no more red butterfly on my face. Fasting
is the number one thing I did to get well. I lost fifty lbs! That was nine years ago, and now when I
have joint pain I fast for two or three days and sip some borax water for maintenance. Dr Jocker’s
fasting information is where you want to start. Food is medicine, but going without it does some
kind of magic in the human body.
Borax has been an accepted natural remedy for arthritis for a very long time, conventional doctors don’t know about it, you need a certified nutritionist like Dr. Jockers. Atomic Iodine completely reversed my brain fog. I now you’ll find your solution, you’re looking in the right place.
Thanks for sharing this Nora!!