> Castellano, C.A., Nugent, S., Paquet, N., Tremblay, S., Bocti, C., Lacombe, G., Imbeault, H., Turcotte, E., Fulop, T., & Cunnane, S.C. (2015). Lower brain 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake but normal 11C-acetoacetate metabolism in mild Alzheimer's disease dementia. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 43(4), 1343-1353. doi: 10.3233/JAD-141952
-- This study found that the brain's uptake of ketones was preserved in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, and that higher levels of ketone metabolism were associated with better cognitive performance.
> Krikorian, R., Shidler, M.D., Dangelo, K., Couch, S.C., Benoit, S.C., & Clegg, D.J. (2012). Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging, 33(2), 425.e19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.10.006
-- This study found that a ketogenic diet improved cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
> Taylor, M.K., Sullivan, D.K., Mahnken, J.D., Burns, J.M., & Swerdlow, R.H. (2018). Feasibility and efficacy data from a ketogenic diet intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 4, 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.11.002
-- This study found that a ketogenic diet was safe and feasible for patients with Alzheimer's disease, and that it improved cognitive function in some patients.
Granted, these are studies for people with existing cognitive impairments. However, given how new the science is, I can see why it hasn't been done with healthy individuals, yet.
-- This study found that the brain's uptake of ketones was preserved in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, and that higher levels of ketone metabolism were associated with better cognitive performance.
> Krikorian, R., Shidler, M.D., Dangelo, K., Couch, S.C., Benoit, S.C., & Clegg, D.J. (2012). Dietary ketosis enhances memory in mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging, 33(2), 425.e19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.10.006
-- This study found that a ketogenic diet improved cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
> Taylor, M.K., Sullivan, D.K., Mahnken, J.D., Burns, J.M., & Swerdlow, R.H. (2018). Feasibility and efficacy data from a ketogenic diet intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 4, 28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.trci.2017.11.002
-- This study found that a ketogenic diet was safe and feasible for patients with Alzheimer's disease, and that it improved cognitive function in some patients.
Granted, these are studies for people with existing cognitive impairments. However, given how new the science is, I can see why it hasn't been done with healthy individuals, yet.