Neuroprotective and Behavioral Benefits of Exogenous Ketone Supplementation-Evoked Ketosis

Emerging evidence from numerous studies suggests that administration of exogenous ketone supplements, such as ketone salts and ketone esters, may have a therapeutic influence on several central nervous system disorders through neuroprotective and behavioral effects. Therefore, ketone supplementation is a potential therapeutic tool for epilepsy, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders. Ketosis evoked by exogenous ketone supplements can exert its beneficial effects, for example, through modulation of mitochondrial function, hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2, histone deacetylases, and the NOD-like receptor pyrin domain 3 inflammasome. In this chapter, the ketone-induced metabolic and downstream signaling effects associated with mitigating treatment-resistant neurodegenerative and behavioral disorders are summarized and the rationale for the development and testing of specific ketone-based adjunctive treatments is outlined.