Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Symptoms, Biomarkers, Depression, and Anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Study

Abstract

The ketogenic diet has grown in popularity as an alternative or adjunct to medication therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). Traditional medication therapies often fail to produce desired improvements in PD symptoms and can have little or no effect on symptoms of depression and anxiety that often accompany a PD diagnosis. We document a case study involving a 68-year-old female with PD stage I and a history of mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. The subject adopted a traditional ketogenic diet (fats 70%; protein 25%; carbohydrates 5%) for 24 weeks. Baseline, 12-week and 24-week biomarkers (lab results), and scores on a depression scale, anxiety scale, and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) (parts I-III) for PD symptoms were compared. Significant improvements were observed in all health biomarkers, including a reduction in HbA1C, C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides, and fasting insulin, along with weight loss and reduction in cardiac risk factors. Improved high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were seen at 12 weeks and 24 weeks, along with improved anxiety symptoms at the 12-week and 24-week mark. Minimum improvement was seen on depression scale scores at 24 weeks. Based on our findings, the ketogenic diet is safe and effective for improving biomarkers of health, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PD symptoms in patients with stage I PD. We recommend further clinical trial studies for more generalizable results.