Ketone Bodies Found to Aid Protein Clearance in Alzheimer’s Research

New study reveals ketone bodies directly interact with misfolded proteins, enhancing their removal and offering potential therapeutic pathways for aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Researchers discovered that the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) alters the solubility of misfolded proteins, enabling their clearance through autophagy.
• Experiments in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and aging showed reduced pathological protein aggregation and improved brain health with ketone ester treatments.
• Studies in nematode worms genetically modified to express human amyloid beta demonstrated significant recovery in mobility after ketone body treatment.
• The findings suggest ketone bodies act as signaling metabolites that regulate protein quality control and may provide new metabolic links to aging and neurodegeneration.
• The researchers propose further studies in humans to explore therapeutic applications for ketone bodies in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

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