I am looking for research and information about the low carb livestyle and ketones and brain function. I'm a nurse interested in helping my stroke, dementia and alzheimers patients understand why low carb is good for them. I can find lots of information about using ketogenic diets in epileptic children, and it's great, but my patients are adults and don't necessarily have epilepsy. If any of you come across research or articles about adults and low carb and brain function, please let me know. Oh, and I've already ordered Dr. McCleary's book, "The Brain Trust"

Here are some of the articles I've come across so far:

http://www.biblelife.org/ketosis.htm

http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/alzheimers.html

My intention is to formulate some patient education materials. Thanks in advance for helping.

Peg in NC

Peg welcome. You already found the Dr. Groves article that I had in mind. If I run across anything I'll let you know. Best to you!

Hey Peg, GREAT QUESTIONS!

I know you have his book on order, but don't miss my recent interview with Dr. Larry McCleary at my blog. His book is TOP-NOTCH!

I've blogged about the latest studies on a low-carb diet and brain health here, here, here, and here.

Oh the Alzheimers link is interesting - my father has alzheimers and his sister did also.... It absolutely terrifies me that I may end up that way, so if low carbing helps, there's just another great reason to stick with it.

I would guess that there is something pro-inflammatory about eating a lot of carbs. I have a kiddo with mild autism and have been heavy on biomedical and special diet interventions for him, so I've been reading a lot over the years about brain function and gut function and the link between them. And isn't there a link between diabetes and Alzheimers?

There is a great story about a mom, named Elaine Gottschall, who healed her daughter's ulceritive colitis with a diet free of disaccharides--no grains--and also cured her seizures, night terrors, and other scary brain-malfunction issues. It's not strictly a low-carb diet, it's called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and it does address the link between gut health and brain function. "The Vicious Cycle"

You might also look at "Excitotoxins" by Russel Blaylock.

I would also like to suggest chronic yeast overgrowth or bacterial imbalance--called dysbiosis--can affect brain function. My kid spirals down when his gut is in bad shape. We clean up his gut, usually needing to resort to some antifungals--and his brain fog lifts. It's pretty remarkable.

Supporting sulfur chemistry might also be good. I know a woman whose father had Alzheimers and she was a medical researcher. She found some info on a researcher in the UK about sulfur chemistry and had the nurses at her father's home start soaking him in an Epsom Salt bath every night. She said it was very calming for him.

Good luck,

Jill

Sugar is just about the most pro-inflammatory thing you could ever eat. And by sugar, I mean ANY carbohydrate, especially refined and starchy carbs. Dr. Nicholas Perricone talks about this subject a LOT!

Thanks, Jill,
Great information. I'll be looking in those directions.

Jimmy, please stop giving me more books to buy!! LOL.
Peg

Sorry! There's a LOT of GREAT information out there.

Jimmy, you do know I was just joking, right? I very much appreciate all you do to get the word out about low carb living! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Keep the info coming and I'll keep buying and reading and getting healthier and healthier!

Peg

Yeah, I caught that, Peg! But I do like pumping out the info to help others...get carried away sometimes.