Cognitive benefits of the ketogenic diet in patients with epilepsy: A systematic overview

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
Annemiek A van BerkelJan Martin Verkuyl

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been found to be effective in reducing seizures in patients with treatment-refractory epilepsy. Less attention has been paid to additional cognitive benefits of KD. The aim of the present paper was to provide a comprehensive overview of the studies reporting effects on cognition after KD treatment in adults and children with epilepsy. To address this aim, the clinical literature on cognitive effects of KD in patients with epilepsy was reviewed using a systematic approach. We conclude that using subjective assessments of the patient's experience, cognitive improvements are frequently reported during KD treatment in the domains of alertness, attention, and global cognition. Studies that used objective neuropsychological tests confirmed benefits on alertness but found no improvement in global cognition. There are indications that these improvements are caused by both seizure reduction and direct effects of KD on cognition. The improvements appear to be unrelated to medication reduction, age when KD is started, type of KD, and sleep improvement. The findings in the present overview contribute to a better understanding of the beneficial effects of KD in patients with epilepsy.

Citations

Jan 25, 2020·Epilepsy Currents·Jana E JonesUNKNOWN NINDS/AES Benchmarks Stewards Committee
Sep 25, 2019·Global Advances in Health and Medicine : Improving Healthcare Outcomes Worldwide·Fatemeh Sadeghifar, Vanessa Baute Penry
Feb 23, 2020·Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders·Ji-Hoon NaYoung-Mock Lee
Sep 26, 2020·Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience·Rebecca StevensonYossi Buskila
Mar 17, 2020·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·Jo SourbronMarian Majoie
Oct 23, 2019·Nutrients·Marzena Ułamek-KoziołRyszard Pluta
Dec 4, 2020·Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B·Benjamin Andreas BerkHolger Andreas Volk
Jan 23, 2021·CNS Drugs·Adam Strzelczyk, Susanne Schubert-Bast
Feb 21, 2021·Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B·Abigail ShegelmanMackenzie C Cervenka
Nov 5, 2019·Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B·Sophie HöhnStéphane Auvin
Jan 15, 2022·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Yue RuanLin Han

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