Nutr Rev. 2025 Oct 30:nuaf198. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaf198. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Cognitive impairment and decreased learning and memory abilities are the primary symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. They are closely associated with protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, excitatory/inhibitory imbalance, intestinal flora, and metabolism and are affected by different dietary patterns. The ketogenic diet (KD) can provide alternative brain energy through the production of ketone bodies; improve mitochondrial function, antioxidant stress, and inflammation; and regulate neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter balance, thereby improving cognitive function. The impact of a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) on brain function depends on its specific dietary formulation. An HCD based on polysaccharides (such as starch) may have a positive impact on cognitive function, while an HCD based on monosaccharides or disaccharides may increase the risk of cognitive impairment. Both a KD and an HCD can influence cognitive function by altering the structure of gut microbiota and regulating metabolites through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review summarizes the potential mechanisms of a KD and an HCD on cognitive impairment and the microbiota-gut-brain axis in order to provide a theoretical basis for improving cognitive behavior and intestinal health in patients with encephalopathy from the perspective of a dietary intervention.
PMID:41165005 | DOI:10.1093/nutrit/nuaf198
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