Whereas the ketogenic weight-reduction plan initially obtained its begin as a therapeutic method for the administration of epilepsy1, researchers shortly recognized different potential advantages of the high-fat, low-carb routine. Keto dieters could get pleasure from weight reduction, decrease blood strain, and lowered threat of metabolic illness because of their life-style selection.
However the destructive unwanted effects of a keto weight-reduction plan have additionally begun to floor, with specialists at UC Davis citing the potential for nutrient deficiencies, destructive results on coronary heart well being, gastrointestinal troubles, and extra2. And now one other doubtlessly worrisome aspect impact of keto has come to mild: New analysis in Neuron appears to indicate that simply two days on a high-fat weight-reduction plan might scramble the hippocampus’ capacity to type new reminiscences3.
What Is a Keto Food regimen?
A keto or ketogenic weight-reduction plan entails consuming high-fat, low-carbohydrate meals. The purpose of the keto weight-reduction plan is to succeed in a metabolic state of ketosis, wherein the physique begins to make use of fats for power. Fairly than glucose (carbohydrates and sugar) being your main mind meals, throughout ketosis your mind fuels up on fats.
This course of makes your physique extra environment friendly at burning fats for power, which can assist promote weight reduction and decrease your threat for sure ailments. However as new analysis piles up, many are starting to marvel if there are dangers that might outweigh the advantages of keto.
How Keto May Have Detrimental Repercussions on Reminiscence
Proof connecting excessive fats consumption to poor reminiscence operate has been stacking up for years. A 2017 research in PLoS ONE confirmed that 4 days on a high-fat weight-reduction plan might result in bother with spatial studying and recall. Analysis printed in 2017 in Neurobiology of Growing old discovered {that a} high-fat weight-reduction plan might result in reminiscence issues in as little as three days4. And 2018 analysis in Scientific Reviews confirmed {that a} high-fat weight-reduction plan might impair episodic reminiscence (the power to recollect particular occasions or experiences) inside only a day5.
Concerningly, the 2 latter research had been carried out on rodents solely consuming about 60 p.c of their energy from fats. Since a keto weight-reduction plan really requires an excellent larger fats consumption (as much as 80 p.c of caloric consumption from fats), it’s no shock that this can be a trigger for concern.
In line with a 2024 research in Mind, Conduct, and Immunity, if a high-fat weight-reduction plan can result in reminiscence malfunction, it’s largely as a result of a pure inflammatory response within the mind6. Researchers discovered {that a} high-fat weight-reduction plan led to overproduction of interleukin-1 beta, an “alarm chemical” launched by immune-like cells within the mind to set off irritation. This irritation then blocks the mind from creating and storing reminiscences, notably emotional ones.
The brand new analysis in Neuron confirms these findings and sheds extra mild on the mechanism behind it. The researchers centered their consideration on a small set of nerve cells in part of the hippocampus answerable for forming new reminiscences and separating related experiences. They noticed that for mice consuming a weight-reduction plan made up of 58 p.c fats, these cells over-fired, scrambling regular patterns and messing with reminiscence formation and storage.
A Excessive-Fats Food regimen Doesn’t Essentially Imply Reminiscence Woes
Whereas this knowledge may lead some to swear off the keto weight-reduction plan, it’s extra complicated than it appears. The researchers behind each of the current research posited that it wasn’t really the high-fat weight-reduction plan itself that precipitated reminiscence malfunction, however somewhat linked unwanted effects.
Within the case of the 2024 research, the researchers discovered that by blocking interleukin-1 beta from docking on its receptor, they had been in a position to circumvent the reminiscence issues. This confirmed that the wrongdoer wasn’t the high-fat weight-reduction plan itself, however somewhat the ensuing irritation. Equally, within the 2025 research, the researchers discovered that they might reverse the ensuing reminiscence loss by growing glucose within the mind — even when the high-fat weight-reduction plan continued.
The Alzheimer’s Discrepancy
The hyperlink between fats and reminiscence grows much more complicated while you look at the distinctive case of Alzheimer’s. Some analysis confirms the hyperlink between excessive fats consumption and reminiscence loss, like a 2014 research in Neurobiology of Growing old that appeared to indicate that 4 months on a high-fat weight-reduction plan led to sooner reminiscence loss in mice engineered to develop Alzheimer-like mind modifications7. A 2024 research in Mind, Conduct, and Immunity additionally confirmed that even brief spans of high-fat consuming might worsen reminiscence in Alzheimer’s mannequin mice8.
However different analysis has proven the other, with two analysis opinions — one in 2021 analysis evaluation9 and the opposite in 202410 — showcasing the useful results of a ketogenic weight-reduction plan on sufferers with Alzheimer’s illness. One October 2025 research from the College of Missouri discovered {that a} high-fat weight-reduction plan like keto might assist protect mind well being and even gradual cognitive decline for Alzheimer’s sufferers with the APOE4 gene, the strongest identified genetic threat issue for late-onset Alzheimer’s illness11.
Since these with the APOE4 gene wrestle to transform glucose into mind power, the researchers defined {that a} keto weight-reduction plan would permit the mind to make use of ketones instead gasoline supply to scale back cognitive decline.
Understanding the Hyperlink Between Fats Consumption and Reminiscence
So with all this conflicting analysis, what’s the actual reply? There are two main takeaways from this bounty of analysis. Firstly, there’s no one-size-fits-all method to the hyperlink between weight-reduction plan and reminiscence.
“As a substitute of anticipating one resolution to work for everybody, it may be higher to contemplate quite a lot of elements, together with somebody’s genotype, intestine microbiome, gender and age,” stated Ai-Ling Lin, a professor within the College of Missouri Faculty of Medication and writer of the 2025 research.
Kathleen Benson, CSSD, CPT, RDN at VNutrition, echoes this concept. “We nonetheless don’t absolutely perceive how totally different fats sorts and meals sources work together with mind irritation over time,” she explains. “Particular person elements like genetics, hormone standing, digestive well being, and metabolic flexibility doubtless play a giant function too.”
Think about the High quality of Your Fat
Secondly, and even perhaps extra important, is to contemplate the significance of general weight-reduction plan and the standard of the fats consumed. In any case, the weight-reduction plan adopted within the 2017 PLoS ONE research wasn’t simply excessive in fats but additionally in added sugar — which emulated not keto, however a mean American weight-reduction plan. Within the phrases of the Middle for Meals as Medication & Longevity, the 60 p.c fats weight-reduction plan adopted in lots of of those research doesn’t simply correspond to a keto weight-reduction plan but additionally to “a human weight-reduction plan heavy in quick meals, fried meals, and processed meats12.”
“’Excessive fats’ is a giant umbrella,” explains Benson. “A Western, ultra-processed high-fat sample can increase irritation and may impair hippocampal-dependent reminiscence. A well-formulated ketogenic weight-reduction plan that facilities extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs, and fish typically traits the opposite manner.”
There’s no denying the truth that, as Benson explains, “the mind does want glucose” as its gasoline supply. That stated, “it may possibly run nicely on ketones throughout dietary ketosis.”
“Extremely processed, high-fat patterns are the principle threat,” she continues. “A rigorously designed, minimally-processed ketogenic method might be impartial and even useful in choose sufferers, particularly when insulin resistance is a part of the image.”
Constructing a Mind-Boosting Keto Food regimen Plan
A keto weight-reduction plan isn’t essentially the easiest way ahead for everybody, so it’s best to communicate to healthcare professionals about whether or not it’s a very good plan for you. And whether it is, there are particular approaches to raised decrease your probabilities of reminiscence decline.
Benson suggests constructing meals round antioxidant-rich plant meals like greens, herbs, and fruits. Search for meals naturally loaded with varied colours, which present that you just’re getting a variety of nutritional vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
“For these following strict ketosis, lower-sugar choices similar to berries have a tendency to suit extra simply,” she says, “however all fruits present priceless nutritional vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients.”
She additionally suggests in search of out clear and wholesome fats sources. “Prioritize omega-3s, unsaturated fat, and quite a lot of minimally processed meals,” she says.
Monitor Sugar Consumption and Hydration
In the meantime, Naturopathic Physician Serena Goldstein notes that these following a wholesome keto weight-reduction plan may also take into account monitoring their blood sugar. You possibly can completely nonetheless reap the advantages of a keto weight-reduction plan, however this can be a key step to make sure that hypoglycemia doesn’t change into a priority — particularly originally of a life-style journey.
“Within the keto weight-reduction plan that is generally mitigated by with the ability to have fruit, limiting or negating alcohol or caffeine, and addressing any life-style elements and stress/considerations that could possibly be affecting their well being,” she says.
Benson provides that staying hydrated and maintaining electrolytes balanced is essential. She additionally recommends “avoiding excessive calorie restriction,” which may hurt mind operate and have an effect on long-term sustainability of any weight-reduction plan, keto included.
Sources:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8153354/
- https://well being.ucdavis.edu/weblog/good-food/what-is-the-keto-diet-and-can-it-be-beneficial-for-you/2025/05
- https://information.unchealthcare.org/2025/09/eating-junk-food-increases-risk-of-cognitive-decline-study-shows/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28719855/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-30265-4
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37838078/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4024197/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39043341/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8755961/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770724003932
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251021083646.htm
- https://foodmedcenter.org/your-brain-on-fat-how-high-fat-diets-hijack-your-memory-in-just-days/
