Keto diet tested as brain booster in early Alzheimer's trial
NCT ID NCT03472664
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
The BEAT-AD study is testing whether a low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet can improve thinking and memory in 120 adults with mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's. Participants are randomly assigned to either a ketogenic diet or a low-fat diet for 16 weeks, with follow-up 8 weeks later. Researchers will measure changes in brain blood flow, spinal fluid proteins, and cognitive test scores to see if diet can alter Alzheimer's-related brain changes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Modified Mediterranean-Ketogenic Diet (low-carb/high-fat) or American Heart Association Diet (low-fat/high-carb)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that a specific diet helps slow cognitive decline in people with early memory problems, pointing toward a simple lifestyle approach for Alzheimer's prevention.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study (120 people) that only lasts 16 weeks on the diet. It measures biomarkers, not long-term disease progression, so results may not translate to real-world benefits. Diet adherence can be challenging.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
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