https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/neuroscience/can-ketones-enhance-cognitive-function-and-protect-brain-networks Skip to newsroom menu Skip to main content Univerity of Rochester Medical Center Univerity of Rochester Medical Center * Patient Care * Education * Research * Community Skip to main content [ ] * Newsroom * Publications Dialogue NeURoscience Nursing Rochester Medicine Strong Kids View All Publications * Media Inquiries Images and Video Additional Resources * Archives * About Us * Explore URMC Research Can ketones enhance cognitive function and protect brain networks? May. 31, 2024 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Skip breadcrumb * URMC Home * Newsroom * Publications * NeURoscience * Can ketones enhance cognitive function and protect brain networks? Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester have identified mechanisms in the brain's hippocampal network that are rescued by ketones. These findings build on previous research showing that ketones can alleviate neurological and cognitive affects. As we age our brain naturally becomes more insulin resistant. This creates a breakdown in communication between neurons, causing symptoms like changes in mood, cognitive decline, and eventually neurodegeneration. Nathan A. Smith, MS, PhD ('13), associate professor of Neuroscience, and fellow researchers studied the mechanisms in the brain that break down when insulin resistance is suddenly present, like in trauma, but before symptoms manifest into chronic conditions, like diabetes or Alzheimer's. Nathan A. Smith PhD, wearing blue blazer and blue shirt. "Once neuronal function is lost, there is no recovering the connection, so we need to identify when the function first becomes impaired," said Smith, the principal investigator of this research, published in the journal PNAS Nexus. "This study accomplishes that by bringing us closer to understanding how to rescue the function of impaired neurons and prevent or delay devastating diseases like Alzheimer's." Using mice as a model system, researchers focused on the hippocampus, a well understood region of the brain responsible for learning and memory. They found acute insulin resistance impairs several aspects of neuronal function, including synaptic activity, axonal conduction, network synchronization, synaptic plasticity, and action potential properties--the processes critical to support the communication flow in and out of neurons. Researchers then administered D-bHb, a form of ketones, a byproduct released by the liver when the body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. They found that the synaptic activity that was previously impacted by acute insulin resistance was rescued, conduction in axons increased, neurons were resynchronized, and increased synaptic plasticity. "This research has implications for developing ketone-based therapies targeting specific neuronal dysfunctions in conditions involving insulin resistance/hypoglycemia like diabetes or Alzheimer's disease," Smith said. "We are now looking to understand the role that astrocytes and other glia cells play in acute insulin resistance." Four people stand together smiling in lab wearing white lab coats. From left: Siddharth Chittaranjan, Nathan A. Smith, MS, PhD, Tracy Bubel, MS, and Bartosz Kula, PhD, who is the first author of this research paper. Additional authors include Bartosz Kula, PhD, of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, Botond Antal and Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, PhD, of Stony Brook University and Harvard Medical School, Corey Weistuch, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Florian Gackiere, PhD, Alexander Barre, PhD, and Jeffrey Hubbard, PhD, of Neuroservices Alliance, and Maria Kukley, PhD, of Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience and Basque Foundation for Science. This research was supported by The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. Watch Nathan A. Smith, MS, PhD, on NeURoscience Perspectives with John Foxe Tags * Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience * neuro * aging * faculty * students and trainees * alumni Author MicrosoftTeams-image-11 photo Kelsie Smith Hayduk Kelsie_Smith-hayduk@URMC.Rochester.edu NeURoscience Related Stories GettyImages-1419289283 The stars in the brain may be information regulators neuroscience-vol-13-2022_293 Diverse minds and determined hearts make change: Forging equitability in Neuroscience Nathan A. Smith Ph.D. "Education is key." Neuroscientist Nathan A. Smith, Ph.D. ('13), returns in leadership role sdqiIohDruIgiba Neuroscience alumni among 1,000 inspiring Black scientists in America Read the Full Issue View the Archives Latest May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 June 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 February 2020 January 2020 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 April 2018 Want URMC news articles delivered right to your inbox? Sign up today >> Looking for events in and near the Medical Center? 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