Effect of a Two-month Carbohydrate-restricted Diet on Energy Metabolism in a Seniors' Residence

Finding an effective therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a societal priority, but it also remains a major challenge. With one exception in 2021, no new pharmaceutical treatment for AD has been approved for over 20 years. However, several clinical trials demonstrate the potential of ketogenic interventions to restore brain energy and improve cognition in people with mild cognitive impairment and AD. Recently, the largest and longest clinical trial of its kind shows that compensating for energy deficit in the brain during aging improves brain metabolic and cognitive functioning in people with early AD and could potentially delay AD.

One of the main types of ketogenic intervention is the highly reduced carbohydrate (5-10% of daily energy value compared to a normal value of 50-65%) and very high fat ketogenic diet. Despite the now well-established safety of the ketogenic diet and its therapeutic value in the treatment of epilepsy and type 2 diabetes, the latter remains difficult to implement in because of the compliance challenge. A reduced glycemic load diet where intake of refined carbohydrates and added sugar is restricted is found to be much less restrictive than a ketogenic diet. Phase 1 of this project showed that decreased carbohydrate (sugar) intake may improve long-term glycemic control and compliance compared to more severe carbohydrate restriction. Having better blood glucose control may also be important in decreasing the risk of AD possibly by improving the metabolic profile and/or by promoting the production and use of ketones. However, its effectiveness in helping cognition in the elderly is still unknown and any changes in dietary habits can be addressed with some resistance.

The objective of this project is therefore to answer the following question: does a reduction in carbohydrates of 30 to 50% for 2 months reduce the risk of AD by improving the metabolic profile in people living in a senior residence?

Inclusion criteria

• Senior men or women residing in VÜ resident home;
• Understand, read and write French;
• Possess sufficient visual and auditory acuity to pass the cognitive tests;
• Available during the intervention period

Exclusion criteria

• Body mass index < 20;
• T1 diabetic;
• Insulin-dependent T2 diabetic;
• Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) < 20;
• Weight loss >10% in the last 6 months, involuntary or voluntary;
• Known and uncontrolled hypoglycaemia;
• Moderate to severe digestive illnesses that may be aggravated by dietary changes;
• Severe dysphagia;
• Supplementation with medium chain triglycerides oil, ketone salts, ketone ester, adherence to the ketogenic diet, reduced carbohydrate diet, intermittent fasting, or other diet or supplements that may significantly increase ketones in the past month;
• Participation in other intervention research projects on nutrition or aimed at metabolic change simultaneously.
• Medical condition that could prevent the participant from completing the study according to the doctor's opinion