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A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT
Fortier M, Castellano CA, St-Pierre V, Myette-Côté É, Langlois F, Roy M, Morin MC, Bocti C et al.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2020-10-26
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Counteracting impaired brain glucose metabolism with ketones may improve cognition in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Cognition, plasma ketone response, and metabolic profile were assessed before and 6 months after supplementation with a ketogenic drink containing medium chain triglyceride (ketogenic medium chain triglyceride [kMCT]; 15 g twice/day; n = 39) or placebo (n = 44). Results Free and cued recall (Trial 1; P = .047), verbal fluency (categories; P = .024), Boston Naming Test (total correct answers; P = .033), and the Trail-Making Test (total errors; P = .017) improved significantly in the kMCT group compared to placebo (analysis of covariance; pre-intervention score, sex, age, education, and apolipoprotein E4 as covariates). Some cognitive outcomes also correlated positively with plasma ketones. Plasma metabolic profile and ketone response were unchanged. Conclusions This kMCT drink improved cognitive outcomes in MCI, at least in part by increasing blood ketone level. These data support further assessment of MCI progression to Alzheimer's disease.
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APA 7th
Fortier, M., Castellano, C. A., St-Pierre, V., É, M.-C., Langlois, F., Roy, M., et al. (2021). A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12206
Vancouver
Fortier M, Castellano CA, St-Pierre V, É M.-C, Langlois F, Roy M, et al. A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2021. doi:10.1002/alz.12206. PMID: 33103819.
BibTeX
@article{fortier2021-33103819,
author = {Fortier, M. and Castellano, C. A. and St-Pierre, V. and É, Myette-Côté and Langlois, F. and Roy, M. and Morin, M. C. and Bocti, C. and others},
title = {{A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1002/alz.12206},
pmid = {33103819},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12206}
}
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Key findings
- Results Free and cued recall (Trial 1; P = .047), verbal fluency (categories; P = .024), Boston Naming Test (total correct answers; P = .033), and the Trail-Making Test (total errors; P = .017) improved significantly in the kMCT group compared to placebo (analysis of covariance; pre-intervention score, sex, age, education, and apolipoprotein E4 as covariates).
Why it matters
In this 6-month randomized controlled trial, a ketogenic drink improved several cognitive outcomes in people with mild cognitive impairment compared with placebo, and some outcomes correlated positively with plasma ketones. The authors say the data support further assessment of mild cognitive impairment progression to Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants39
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 39 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 187 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 26.7 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 96 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Stephen C. Cunnane: h-index 73 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Université de Sherbrooke: institution h-index 498 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33103819) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 67 / 100 | — |
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