A ketogenic intervention improves dorsal attention network functional and structural connectivity in mild cognitive impairment

Ketones, the brain's alternative fuel to glucose, bypass the brain glucose deficit and improve cognition in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our goal was to assess the impact of a 6-month ketogenic intervention on the functional connectivity within eight major brain resting-state networks, and its possible relationship to improved cognitive outcomes in the BENEFIC trial. MCI participants were randomized to a placebo (n = 15) or ketogenic medium chain triglyceride (kMCT; n = 17) intervention. kMCT was associated with increased functional connectivity within the dorsal attention network (DAN), which correlated to improvement in cognitive tests targeting attention. Ketone uptake (