Ketogenic diet cognitive and behavioral impact

IJff DM, Postulart D, Lambrechts DA, Majoie MH, de Kinderen RJ, Hendriksen JG,

Evers SM, Aldenkamp AP. Cognitive and behavioral impact of the ketogenic diet in

children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial.

Epilepsy Behav. 2016 Jul;60:153-7.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The ketogenic diet (KD) is increasingly used for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in childhood because of the beneficial effect on seizure reduction. The aim of the current study was to objectively assess cognition and aspects of behavior during the first 4months of a randomized controlled study in children and adolescents.

METHODS:

Participants from a tertiary epilepsy center were randomized to a KD group (intervention) or a care-as-usual (CAU) group (control). Follow-up assessments on cognition and behavior were performed approximately 4months after initiation of the KD with a combination of parent report questionnaires and individually administered psychological tests for the children.

RESULTS:

A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study, 28 patients from the KD group and 22 patients from the CAU group. The KD group showed lower levels of anxious and mood-disturbed behavior and was rated as more productive. Cognitive test results showed an improvement of activation in the KD group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed a positive impact of the KD on behavioral and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy. More specifically, an activated mood and cognitive activation were observed in patients treated with the KD.

Courtesy of:  http://www.epilepsy.com/article/2016/8/food-thought-does-ketogenic-diet-improve-thinking-and-behavior?utm_source=Epilepsy+Foundation&utm_campaign=ccf7e6afee-Epilepsy_News_8_31_16_PRO&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cf0feb6500-ccf7e6afee-12136309

Zhu D, Wang M, Wang J, Yuan J, Niu G, Zhang G, Sun L, Xiong H, Xie M, Zhao Y.

Ketogenic diet effects on neurobehavioral development of children with

intractable epilepsy: A prospective study. Epilepsy Behav. 2016 Feb;55:87-91.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to determine the impact of a ketogenic diet (KD) on neurobehavioral development when used to treat children with intractable epilepsy, confirming the efficacy of the KD, as well as the correlation between early electroencephalography (EEG) changes in the early stage with treatment efficacy.

METHODS:

We enrolled 42 children who were starting treatment for intractable epilepsy with the classic KD protocol. The total development quotient as well as the development quotients for adaptability, gross motor movements, fine motor movements, language, and individual-social interaction on the Gesell developmental scales were assessed before and after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months of KD treatment. The efficacy assessment was based on changes in seizure frequency after KD as recorded by the parents. We conducted 24-h video-EEG before and after 1 month of KD treatment.

RESULTS:

Developmental quotients of five energy regions in the Gesell developmental scales assessment were used to compare adaptability (P1=0.000), gross motor movements (P2=0.010), and fine motor movements (P3=0.000); the results showed significant differences. After KD treatment at different time points, 69.0%, 54.8%, 40.5%, and 33.3% patients, respectively, achieved a ≥50% reduction in seizure frequency. The reduction of epileptiform discharges in the awake state after 1 month of KD treatment correlated with the efficacy after 3 months of KD treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ketogenic diet treatment tends to be associated with improved neurobehavioral development, and more significant improvement can be obtained with prolonged treatment. The KD is safe and effective in treating children with intractable epilepsy. Early EEG changes correlate with clinical efficacy, to a certain degree.