The Ketogenic Diet as a Potential Therapy in Down syndrome

Kyle N. Kaneko^1*, Miki Wong^1,3, Michael J. Corley^1,2, Ryan W.Y. Lee^1,2,3

¹Shriners Hospitals for Children®—Honolulu, Department of Research, Honolulu, HI, USA

²John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA

³Milestones Center for Pediatric Neurodevelopment, Honolulu, HI, USA

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Abstract

Down syndrome is a common genetic intellectual disability seen in humans. Currently, therapeutic interventions are inadequate in improving the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome that have cognitive and behavioral impairments. Nutrition therapies for Down syndrome have focused on addressing obesity but not intellectual disability and cognitive decline. The ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate, moderate protein, and high fat diet used to treat childhood and adult epilepsy, however, there is growing interest in its potential to improve cognition and behavior. There is evidence suggesting that the ketogenic diet may be effective in treating comorbidities associated with Down syndrome such as early onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This review aims to discuss the ketogenic diet and the potential benefits that the diet may provide in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. We propose that the ketogenic diet may be a therapeutic option for cognitive decline in Down syndrome and warrants investigation.

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Introduction

Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is a chromosomal disorder that is considered the most common genetic intellectual disability in humans, with a worldwide prevalence of 1 in 1100 live births1. DS is characterized by distinctive facial and skeletal features, hypotonia, developmental delay, and intellectual disability1. Common comorbidities include congenital heart disease, obesity, congenital ophthalmological disorders, epilepsy, hearing loss, and psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)2.

Intellectual disability and behavioral problems are often the most impairing symptoms for individuals and families with DS. Approximately 80% of individuals with DS have moderate cognitive impairment3. Individuals with DS experience delays in cognitive development with specific deficits in speech, language production, verbal short-term memory, and explicit long term memory4. Cognitive impairment exists in the majority of individuals with DS, however, expressivity and severity vary considerably4.

The underlying mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in DS is not well understood due to the wide variation of phenotypic expression in this disorder. In addition, individuals with DS experience an early-onset cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD affects 20-50% of DS individuals in their fifties, and 30-75% of those in their sixties5. Having 3 copies of chromosome 21 results in an overproduction of brain amyloid due to an over-expression of the amyloid precursor protein gene6. Nearly all show the same neuropathological changes such as senile plaques (SP-beta-amyloid protein) and neurofibrillary tangles (hyperphosphorylated tau protein) that meet criteria for a diagnosis of AD by the age of 405. Higher plasma amyloid beta levels have been associated with poor communication skills, worse performance in a semantic verbal fluency task, and a higher Dementia Questionnaire for Persons with Intellectual Disability score7.

Epilepsy, a common comorbidity in DS8, is also thought to contribute to cognitive dysfunction9. Recent prevalence data estimates that 12.4% of the DS population have a seizure disorder1. Cognitive symptoms of dementia in individuals with DS include forgetfulness, problems with learning, impaired short-term memory, and deficits in visuospatial organization2,4. McCarron et al.9 longitudinally followed 77 individuals diagnosed with DS and dementia and found that epilepsy was associated with dementia and sensory impairments in these individuals. Lott et al.10 looked at 53 adults with DS and AD-type dementia and demonstrated a positive correlation between seizure activity and the severity and duration of cognitive impairment compared to DS individuals without seizures. In addition, individuals with DS that develop late onset seizures (greater than 45 years of age) are significantly more likely to develop AD-like symptoms11. Frequent seizures may induce irregular sprouting of nerve fibers, reduced neurogenesis, and abnormal neurotransmitter function12, which may contribute to cognitive decline.

Treatment for cognitive decline in DS remains a challenge. There is a lack of therapeutic interventions to improve the quality of life for those with DS. There is a lack of sufficient evidence for various pharmacological interventions including donepezil, memantine, simvastatin, acetyl-L-carnitine and other cholinesterase inhibitors regarding efficacy for treatment of cognitive decline in DS13. Furthermore, supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals in children with and without folinic acid have shown little or no evidence in improving the psychomotor and language development in children with DS14. Nutritional therapies for DS have focused on obesity but fail to address intellectual disability and cognitive decline15.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is an established, effective treatment for patients with certain defects in glucose transporter1, pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiencies, and intractable epilepsy16. The mechanisms behind its anticonvulsant effects have yet to be fully understood, however, there is growing evidence of the neuroprotective properties of the KD and ketone bodies in particular, and as such, increasing interest in using the KD to treat other neurological disorders. Recent studies have investigated cognition and behavioral changes in children with epilepsy on the KD17,18, autism spectrum disorder19,20,21, and developmental delay22. To our knowledge, there have not been any case studies demonstrating the effects of the KD in DS. This review aims to discuss the KD as potential therapy for treating cognitive dysfunction in individuals with DS.

History of the Ketogenic Diet

Fasting has been used as a treatment for seizures and other ailments for centuries. Hippocrates in 400 BC described a man who was successfully rid of seizures with the complete abstinence from food and water. In 1921, Dr. Rawle Geyelin reported on seizure cessation in a young child as a result of fasting at the American Medical Association convention that year23. This child was under the care of Dr. Hugh Conklin, an osteopathic physician who had been treating epileptic seizures under a water only fasting protocol that included daily osteopathic treatments. Moreover, Geyelin reported that he had treated 26 of his own epileptic patients with fasting, and 18 showed a significant improvement23. One month later, Mayo Clinic physician Dr. Russell Wilder proposed the use of a high fat, low carbohydrate diet designed to induce the ketogenesis observed in starvation as an alternative and sustainable treatment to fasting for epileptic seizures. Dr. Mynie Peterman was the first to report designing and implementing such a diet in 192423. The KD, as coined by Dr. Wilder, gained popularity as a treatment for epilepsy but fell into gradual disuse by the 1940s with the introduction of diphenylhydantoin and subsequent anti-epileptic drugs. However, there is a growing interest in the KD in recent years due to the resurgence of its use in the treatment of epilepsy24-27 and other neurologic and metabolic disorders28,29.

The KD is a high fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrate diet that induces the hepatic production of ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and aceteoacetate)16. KDs mimic starvation and were developed for use in humans to treat epilepsy based on the long record of observations that fasting reduces seizures16. The reduction in dietary carbohydrates decreases the need for insulin production. This deactivates enzymes that stimulate glycogenesis and lipogenesis. Once glycogen reserves are sufficiently exhausted, fat is mobilized as an alternative fuel source to supply needed acetyl coenzyme A for energy. This leads to an over-production of ketone bodies acetoacetate and BHB, which are produced by the mitochondria in the liver. The primary ketone body produced is acetoacetate, while the primary circulating ketone body is BHB. BHB and acetoacetate cross the blood brain barrier and are converted to acetyl coenzyme A, which enters the Krebs cycle to produce adenosine triphosphate in the brain mitochondria16.

The mechanisms underlying the anti-convulsant effects of the KD are not fully understood, although hypotheses center on metabolic shifts that occur in a state of ketosis and neuroprotective properties of the ketone bodies themselves30. Clinical and animal research models affirm that ketosis is necessary for effectiveness, although the level of ketone production may not directly impact seizure control. For example, the Low Glycemic Index Treatment (LGIT) diet is used in the treatment of epilepsy31. Studies so far demonstrate a similar efficacy to the classic KD and the modified Atkins diet (MAD)32, yet patients on the LGIT tend to maintain a milder state of ketosis due to the more liberal allowance of low glycemic index carbohydrates. Rather than hypothesizing a singular mechanism, it is plausible that the diet exerts its effects through multiple mechanisms working together synergistically in response to glucose restriction and the resultant availability of ketone bodies33. One mechanism recently hypothesized by Giordano et al.34 involves neuroactive peptides such as ghrelin and insulin which are modulated by the KD. Insulin production is reduced on a very low carbohydrate, moderate protein diet. Insulin levels have been linked to seizure induction and ghrelin and leptin to seizure suppression. Lucchi et al.35 demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was able to modulate seizures through activation of a ghrelin receptor antagonist (EP-80317)34. Similarly, Simeone et al.36 found that mice on the KD increased nuclear expression of PPARγ in the brain and reduced the frequency of seizures. Mice given an antagonist of PPARγ had no KD-mediated changes in PPARγ2 expression and had no anti-seizure effects seen. These results suggest that PPARγ plays a role in the anti-convulsant properties seen in the KD36.

Therapeutic Applications of the Ketogenic Diet

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common co-morbidity in individuals with DS, with a reported prevalence of 13%37. Epilepsy in childhood is often correlated with cognitive dysfunction and emotional and behavioral problems38,39. The KD has repeatedly been shown to improve seizure control in children with intractable epilepsy24-27,40,41. Recent studies have investigated the effect of the KD on cognition and behavior in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Pulsifer et al.17 conducted the first prospective study of the effects of the KD on development, behavior, and parenting stress. 65 children with intractable seizures, aged 18 months to 14 years 6 months were included in the study. The children were evaluated before KD initiation and 1 year after KD implementation. There was a significant reduction in seizure frequency, from 25 seizures per day at baseline, to a mean daily seizure frequency of 1.8 seizures per day after 1-year follow up17. Children who continued the KD beyond 1 year showed a significant improvement in overall developmental functioning (as measured by the mean developmental quotient), with significant behavioral improvements in attention and social functioning17.

Hallbook et al.42 evaluated sleep structure during KD treatment in children with therapy-resistant epilepsy while correlating possible alterations with changes in clinical effects on seizure reduction, quality of life and behavior. 18 children were examined with polysomnographic recordings before and after 3 months of KD treatment. 11 children continued the KD and were also evaluated after 12 months of KD treatment. The KD was found to improve sleep quality, increased rapid-eye-movement sleep, which seemed to contribute to improvement in attentional behavior42.

The first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the cognitive and behavioral effects of the KD was conducted by Ijff et al.18. A total of 50 patients were enrolled in the study, with 28 patients in the KD group and 22 in the control group. Follow up cognitive and behavioral assessments were performed approximately 4 months after KD initiation. Patients on the KD had significantly higher scores on the subscale ‘vigor’ (energy) than patients in the control group. There was a positive correlation with seizure reduction in the KD group; greater seizure reduction resulted in a greater vigor score. Patients on the KD also had significantly higher scores on the subscale ‘productivity’, were less anxious, and had less mood-disturbed behavior than the control group21. Treatment with the KD resulted in a positive impact on behavioral and cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with refractory epilepsy21.

The KD has been increasingly used to treat refractory epilepsy, however some evidence suggests that the KD may cause a paradoxical increase in epileptic activity. In a retrospective review of 21 patients treated with the KD and concurrent anti-epileptic medications, Lucchi et al.43 reported 3 patients with worsening of epileptic seizures as reflected on the electroencephalogram and reported seizure frequency. In 1 of these patients, seizures transiently worsened in severity (with no change in frequency), with an overall seizure improvement of 78%. Careful monitoring of this phenomenon should be done when KD intervention is used.

Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia

Almost all adults with DS have neuropathological characteristics of AD such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles by 40 years of age5,44. Concentrations of brain amyloid increase over time and has been linked to neurodegeneration16. Converging evidence suggests that impaired glucose metabolism may contribute to cognitive dysfunction seen in AD. In vivo, people with AD demonstrated consistent and progressive cerebral metabolic rate for glucose reductions when imaged with positron emission tomography45. Hypometabolism of glucose contributes to the deposition of amyloid and beta tau proteins in the development of AD. The hippocampus in particular is vulnerable to glucose insufficiency, and in AD cerebral glucose metabolism is reduced by 20-40%46. The KD offers a bypass of glucose metabolism by producing ketone bodies utilizable in these regions affected by amyloid beta deposits and neurofibrillary tangles47. By providing ketone bodies as an energy source, cognitive function may potentially improve through this mechanism of an alternative fuel.

Oral administration of exogenous ketones may also be a potential therapeutic option for AD. Reger et al.48 conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled study assessing the effect of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on cognition in memory-impaired adults. Twenty individuals with probable AD or amnestic mild cognitive impairment consumed an oral dose of medium chain triglycerides that significantly elevated levels of the ketone body, BHB. Higher ketone levels were associated with greater improvements in paragraph recall48 indicating the potential use of medium chain triglycerides as a therapeutic strategy for cognitive impairment.

Henderson et al.49 evaluated the effects of an oral ketogenic compound, AC-1202, on cognitive performance in individuals with probable AD. This was a 90 day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study on 152 individuals. AC-1202 significantly elevated BHB levels 2 hours after administration compared to placebo, which correlated with significant improvements in cognitive abilities in memory, language, orientation, and praxis, as measured by the AD Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale scores, compared to the placebo group41. These results hint at a cognitive advantage in provision of ketone bodies as an alternative energy source in individuals with AD.

Krikorian et al.50 evaluated the effects of a very low carbohydrate diet in adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The 23 adults included in the study were assigned to either a very low carbohydrate diet, designed to induce an adapted response to ketosis, or a high carbohydrate diet for 6 weeks. Subjects in the low carbohydrate group demonstrated an improvement in memory performance that correlated with the level of ketosis. The study concluded that consuming very low amounts of carbohydrates even in the short term may improve memory function in older adults with the risk of AD since ketone levels were positively correlated with memory performance50.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

The prevalence of ASD is significantly higher in people with DS compared to the typical population51. Studies report ASD to have an approximate prevalence of 10-18% in individuals with DS52,53, compared to 1% in individuals without DS54. Individuals with DS and ASD experience poor social orientating, poor integration of verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and limitations in expressive language and adaptive behavior55.

Studies have looked into the KD as a potential therapeutic option in children with ASD. Evangeliou et al.20 conducted a pilot prospective follow-up study analyzing the role of the KD in 30 children with ASD aged 4-10 years for 6 months. They reported improvements in the Childhood Autism Rating Scale in 18 of the 18 children who adhered to the diet for the duration of the six-month study20. This study provided preliminary evidence for the efficacy of the KD as a potential additional or alternative therapy for ASD. Recently, El-Rashidy et al.19 compared the effect of the KD versus a normal diet in a group of 45 autistic children who were 3-8 years of age. The KD group showed significant improvement in Childhood Autism Rating Scale scores. The total Autism Treatment Evaluation Test questionnaire (ATEC) scores were significantly decreased from 41.70 ± 5.52 to 33.70 ± 4.2 following implementation of the KD, indicating a decrease in severity of ASD symptoms seen in these children19. The subscales in the ATEC that significantly improved included speech/language/communication, sociability, and sensory/cognitive awareness.

Lee et al.21 implemented a modified ketogenic gluten-free diet with supplemental medium chain triglycerides in 15 children with ASD aged 2 to 17 years for 3 months. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (CARS-2) were used to assess the participants. After 3 months, approximately 50% of the children showed moderate to substantial improvement in ADOS-2 scores. Moreover, 50% of the participants had significant improvements in CARS-2 scores in the areas of imitation, body use, and fear or nervousness. These results suggest that the KD may be a potential safe and effective treatment that should be considered for treatment of social impairments in children with ASD21. Although there is some evidence for the potential benefits of the KD in ASD, additional studies are warranted.

Cognition and Behavior

The KD diet has been effective in treating glucose transporter protein 1 deficiency syndrome and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. Studies have investigated effects on cognition and behavior after KD implementation in these individuals. Ramm-Peterson et al.56 implemented the KD for 6-17 months in 6 patients diagnosed with glucose transporter protein 1 deficiency syndrome. Patients in the study had early-onset seizures and developmental delay. All 6 patients demonstrated improvements in general alertness, expressive language, articulation, and physical endurance shortly after starting the KD56. All patients responded to the KD with >90% seizure reduction. Movement disorders also improved shortly after dietary intervention. Interestingly, younger patients showed the greatest improvement in cognition particularly with respect to receptive language, expressive verbal language, and cognitive index, yet adults did achieve improvements as well56.

Another study by Sofou et al.57 implemented the KD on children diagnosed with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. Nineteen children initiated the KD at a median age of 2.5 years. Patients were maintained on the KD for a median of 2.9 years. The KD had a positive effect on seizure frequency in all patients with half experiencing seizure freedom within 1 year. Improvements in speech and language were observed in 15 of 19 patients during KD implementation. Behavioral and social functioning were assessed, and all but one patient became more active during treatment, described as being more alert and less somnolen57.

Park et al.58 conducted a retrospective chart review on 12 children with intractable epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex who were put on the KD. After 3 months of KD initiation, 10 patients had > 50% seizure reduction. Moreover, 7 patients exhibited qualitative improvements in cognition and behavior, as reported by caregivers/parents after KD initiation58.

The KD is potentially beneficial in the areas of neurobehavioral development, emotional, and social behaviors, and life ability in children with global developmental delay22. Zhu et al.22 conducted a prospective case-control study for hospitalized children with global developmental delay who were divided into a KD treatment group or a conventional treatment group. Both groups received comprehensive rehabilitation training and were assessed with the Gesell Developmental Scale, Chinese version of the Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment/Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, and Infants-Junior High School Students’ Social Life Abilities Scale before and after 3, 6, and 9 months of treatment. The KD treatment group had significantly greater improvements in the scores of the adaptive, fine motor, and language quotients of the Gesell Developmental Scale compared with the conventional treatment group at all 3 time points. The KD treatment group also had significantly greater improvements in the Chinese version of Urban Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment/Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist scores than the conventional treatment group. After 9 months of treatment the KD treatment group had greater improvements on the Social Life Abilities Scale. The authors concluded that the KD can improve neurobehavioral development and emotional behaviors in children with global developmental delay, with few adverse effects22.

Challenges to implementing the Ketogenic Diet in Down syndrome

There are barriers to implementing the KD in individuals with DS. The biggest challenge is compliance. The KD can be a challenging diet to implement, particularly on the part of the care providers. This requires careful attention to meal planning and securing the partnership of all involved with the patient including the school staff, friends, and family members. Children with DS often have inadequate nutrition due to problems chewing and swallowing certain foods,2 and this needs to be addressed in designing ketogenic friendly meals. Individuals with DS often experience constipation and this could be compounded, since it is an adverse effect of the KD16. In addition, there are challenges with compliance on the part of the individual, particularly in those with restricted food interests, or those that have access to food outside of their prepared meals. The KD can be modified to allow for improved compliance and ease of administration. Working with a physician and dietitian/nutritionist trained in the KD can help to optimize diet compliance and management of side effects. Creating a network of support with other parents and family members can also greatly improve the success of the diet23. A properly formulated KD with careful attention to food choices and proper food textures can provide adequate nutrition in children with DS.

Summary

DS is a common cause of intellectual disability and involves multiple comorbidities including epilepsy and AD. Studies have shown correlation between early onset dementia, AD-like pathology, and seizure activity with cognitive decline seen in DS. There is a lack of medicinal and dietary therapeutic interventions that improve the quality of life for those with DS. Recently, the KD has been studied for its potential to improve cognition and behavior in individuals with epilepsy and ASD. The KD is a novel therapeutic option that may be potentially beneficial for individuals with DS and warrants investigation.

Acknowledgements

Shriners Hospitals for Children®—Honolulu

Funding and Sponsorship

This research did not receive any specific grant form funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of Interest

There are no conflicts of interests.

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