Ketogenic Diet and Nicotinamide Riboside Improve Brain Energy Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) impairs brain energy metabolism and mitochondrial function, with potential differences between males and females. This study tested whether a ketogenic diet and/or nicotinamide riboside (NR) could restore energy in the hippocampus of older mice, including DNA repair–deficient AD models. In male mice, both NR and a ketogenic diet improved mitochondrial energy and key metabolic intermediates. In female mice, only the ketogenic diet effectively restored mitochondrial energy. These findings suggest that NR and ketones can support hippocampal energy in AD, but the benefits depend on sex and disease context.

Journal

Journal of Neurochemistry