A new way to produce hyperketonemia: use of ketone ester in a case of Alzheimer's disease.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Single-patient case report
PubMed 25301680 · doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2014.01.006
What was done
A ketogenic agent, ketone monoester (KME), was administered orally as a supplement over a 20-month period to a single patient with Alzheimer's disease dementia and a pretreatment Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 12, without modifying the habitual diet.
What was found
The abstract reports a baseline MMSE score of 12 and a 20-month treatment period, but gives no post-treatment numeric test scores or precise plasma ketone values. Qualitatively, the patient showed marked improvements in mood, affect, self-care, and cognitive and daily activity performance. Cognitive performance tracked plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations, with noticeable improvements in conversation and interaction at higher levels relative to predose levels.
Why it matters
This paper demonstrates the feasibility and tolerability of using oral ketone monoester to induce hyperketonemia without strict dietary restriction in a patient with Alzheimer's disease.
Limits
The study is an uncontrolled, unblinded single-subject case report (n = 1), making it impossible to rule out placebo effects, observer bias, or natural fluctuation. The abstract reports no numerical outcome metrics after treatment.
Cited by
- supports Research by Mary Newport and Stephen Cunnane demonstrates that exogenous ketones are beneficial for individuals with mild cognitive impairment.