The Ketone-Fueled Brain - How Ketones Enhance Sleep, Brain Performance, Athletic Performance and More | HVMN

TBIs & Ketones

The potential of ketones in treating traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is gaining attention. Louisa Nicola and Michael Brandt discuss how ketones can aid recovery post-concussion by providing an alternative energy source to glucose, which is often depleted after such injuries 1. Brandt explains that ketones can rescue brain activity by metabolizing differently from glucose, thus supporting brain function even when glucose metabolism is impaired 1. Dr Latt Mansor adds that ketones improve oxygen saturation in the blood, offering a novel approach to mitigating TBIs 2.

Ketones are able to rescue brain activity because they use different enzymes to metabolize, and they're able to metabolize irrespective of what metabolism is going on with other substrates.

--- Michael Brandt

This approach is particularly promising for populations like NFL players and military personnel who are frequently exposed to concussions and TBIs 1.

   

Therapeutic Uses

Ketones are also being explored as a therapeutic tool for various diseases. Michael Brandt highlights their role in appetite control, noting that ketones are more satiating than sugar and can aid in weight management when combined with a healthy lifestyle 3. Dr Latt Mansor discusses ongoing research into ketones' potential in cancer treatment, where they may enhance outcomes when used alongside chemotherapy 4. He mentions that ketones could slow the metabolism of healthy cells, reducing the side effects of cancer treatments 4.

Supplementing ketones pre-chemo tend to have better outcomes.

--- Dr Latt Mansor

This research is still in its early stages, but it opens up exciting possibilities for ketones in medical applications 4.