Stephen Cunnane, PhD

“Don't count on this as a as a 1-stop solution because you need to keep your approaches open and the body needs exercise anyway. So just try to combine these approaches instead of counting on 1 solution.”

Brain energy rescue is emerging as a promising strategy to combat neurodegenerative disorders early on, before significant impairment occurs. It is achieved by providing the brain more ketones to metabolize when brain glucose metabolism decreases, often an effect of these disorders.

Stephen C. Cunnane, PhD, Research Center on Aging, Universite de Sherbrooke, 

 with colleagues that demonstrated the use of a ketogenic drink to achieve brain energy rescue. The study demonstrated significant improvements in cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with the use of a ketogenic medium chain triglyceride (kMCT) drink.

 His team also found that C8 triglycerides are more ketogenic than other lengths of triglycerides.

 spoke with Cunnane to learn more about the kinds of ketogenic triglycerides that exist and their role in improving cognition. Cunnane discussed the emerging field of ketogenic supplements and the care that has to be taken when selecting supplements to prescribe to patients. He encourages physicians, patients, and dietitians to research and find products that are suitable for patients.

1. Cunnane SC, Trushina E, Morland C, et al. Brain energy rescue: an emerging therapeutic concept for neurodegenerative disorders of ageing. 

. 2020;19:609-633. doi: 10.1038/s41573-020-0072-x
2.Fortier M, Castellano CA, St-Pierre V, et. al. A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT. 

. Published online Oct 26, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/alz.12206

Videos

The professor from the Universite de Sherbrooke discusses the use of ketogenic diets and supplements to increase cognition. 

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: Evaluating Ketogenics in Brain Energy Rescue

“Scientifically, I think it is an effective approach. It's a question of the practical elements and the logistics of it that that make it very challenging.”

Brain energy rescue is emerging as a promising strategy to early combat neurodegenerative disorders before significant impairment occurs. It is achieved by providing the brain more ketones to metabolize when brain glucose metabolism decreases as an effect of these disorders.

 spoke with Cunnane to learn more about the potential of ketogenic diets and supplements in brain energy rescue to slow down the progression of MCI to Alzheimer Disease (AD). Cunnane discussed the scientific merits of a ketogenic diet while also pointing out the logistic issues of prescribing diets as a treatment. He also touched on concerns of saturated fat and cardiovascular complications, which were not observed in study participants after 6 months of consuming the ketogenic drink.

The professor from the Universite de Sherbrooke discusses the logistical hardships of trying to prescribe a diet as a method of treatment. 

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential of Ketogenic Diets for Brain Energy Rescue

“The most important thing is that it shows a proof of concept. That is, that you can improve cognitive outcomes in MCI. This is not a dead-end street. It looks like there's a way out, if you start early enough.” 

Stephen C. Cunnane, PhD, Research Center on Aging, Universite de Sherbrooke, recently published a paper with colleagues that demonstrated the use of a ketogenic drink to achieve brain energy rescue. The study demonstrated significant improvements in cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with the use of a ketogenic medium chain triglyceride (kMCT) drink.

NeurologyLive spoke with Cunnane to learn more about the potential of brain energy rescue in slowing down the progression of MCI to Alzheimer Disease (AD). Cunnane discussed the importance of the study as a proof-of-concept to pave the way for future studies investigating ketogenics and brain energy rescue to mediate MCI. He also stressed the importance of a synergistic approach to slowing down cognitive decline.

. Published online Oct 26, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/alz.12206 

The professor from the Universite de Sherbrooke also discusses other factors that increase cognitive decline in patients with MCI. 

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential for Brain Energy Rescue in Mild Cognitive Impairment 

“We were delighted to see an effect in MCI because it's an early stage of [Alzheimer Disease]. So logically, you would try to slow down the disease at the earliest stage possible. But it's also a double-edged sword because if the problem is quite minor, it's hard to show that you've actually corrected it.”

Stephen C. Cunnane, PhD, Research Center on Aging, Universite de Sherbrooke, recently published a paper demonstrated the use of a ketogenic drink in brain energy rescue. The study demonstrated significant improvements in cognition in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with the use of a ketogenic medium chain triglyceride (kMCT) drink.

NeurologyLive spoke with Cunnane to learn more about the kMCT drink used in the study and its promising results. Cunnane discussed how MCTs are metabolized and the use of ketones for energy in the brain, as well as the difficulty in assessing improvement before cognition is significantly impaired.

1. Cunnane SC, Trushina E, Morland C. Brain energy rescue: an emerging therapeutic concept for neurodegenerative disorders of ageing. 

. September 2020; 19: 609-633
2.Fortier M, Castellano CA, St-Pierre V, et. al. A ketogenic drink improves cognition in mild cognitive impairment: Results of a 6-month RCT. 

The professor from the Universite de Sherbrooke discusses how his recent study supports the concept of brain energy rescue. 

Stephen Cunnane, PhD

Articles

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: Evaluating Ketogenics in Brain Energy Rescue

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential of Ketogenic Diets for Brain Energy Rescue

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential for Brain Energy Rescue in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: Brain Energy Rescue by Medium Chain Triglycerides

Stephen Cunnane, PhD

Articles

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: Evaluating Ketogenics in Brain Energy Rescue

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential of Ketogenic Diets for Brain Energy Rescue

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential for Brain Energy Rescue in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: Brain Energy Rescue by Medium Chain Triglycerides

Stephen Cunnane, PhD: The Potential for Brain Energy Rescue in Mild Cognitive Impairment