Ketogenic Diet and the Mind

I have found that the ketogenic diet can help support the brains of neurodivergent people. I want to first note that not everyone will experience changes and this approach is not curative, only supportive. I take a neurodiversity approach to brain health so our focus is mainly on supporting the many gifts and talents of neurodivergent people such as those with autism, ADHD, and anxiety. We use nutrition to support function and overall health. As a neurodivergent person, I have experienced positive improvements for myself which is why I initially was impressed with the ketogenic diet. I also see this therapeutic diet help many people in a clinical setting when done safely and sustainably.

I have been researching some of the ways it may be working

GABA support

This is the most commonly talked about mechanism. GABA is a calming neurotransmitter and the ketogenic diet may increase it. This may explain why some with epilepsy that is resistant to drug treatment respond well.

Reduces excitatory responses in the brain

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain is glutamate which may be downregulated on a ketogenic diet. Again this may explain why those with drug-resistant epilepsy often respond well to this diet.

Mitochondrial Support

We are learning that many people have subtle genetic changes, called SNPs, that make their mitochondria less efficient. Researchers have found many of these and we can not test for them easily in a genetic profile. Our neurons need many mitochondria to support the energy requirements needed in the brain. If efficiency is even reduced slightly then we could see difficulties in memory, attention, and overall cognitive health.

Type 4 diabetes or difficulties with the brain utilizing glucose

The news mechanism I have researched is the utilization of sugar by the brain may be reduced. This is being referred to as type 4 diabetes. If insulin-mediated sugar pathways are impaired we would see energy difficulties at the mitochondria. Switching to ketones as a fuel source would bypass this pathway and support the energy demands of the neuron.

There are many ways the ketogenic diet may support the brain. Yet the research is still evolving, so it is recommended to work with a clinician with experience to prevent any nutrient or undesirable side effects with a ketogenic diet.

Reference:

Some kids with autism respond positively to ketogenic diet

https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/some-kids-autism-respond-positively-ketogenic-diet

Glutamate and GABA in autism spectrum disorder—a translational magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in man and rodent models

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-018-0155-1

GABA System Dysfunction in Autism and Related Disorders: From Synapse to Symptoms

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4477717/

Mitochondrial dysfunction and autism: comprehensive genetic analyses of children with autism and mtDNA deletion

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5819172/

The Mitochondrial Dysfunction Hypothesis in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Current Status and Future Perspectives

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7461038/