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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrigenomics
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1545832
This article is part of the Research Topic Extracellular Vesicles and miRNAs: Pioneers in Nutritional Science and Functional Food Development View all 4 articles

Ketogenic Diet and MicroRNAs: Focus on Cognitive Function

Provisionally accepted
Diana Marisol Abrego-Guandique Diana Marisol Abrego-Guandique 1Erika Cione Erika Cione 2Maria Cristina Caroleo Maria Cristina Caroleo 1Diego A. Bonilla Diego A. Bonilla 3Roberto Cannataro Roberto Cannataro 2*
  • 1 Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy
  • 2 University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
  • 3 research group in physical activity, sports and health sciences (GICAFS), Monteira, Colombia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Cognition is a mental process of understanding and learning driven by memory. Recent advances in molecular biology and neuroscience have revealed a fascinating interplay between cognitive function and microRNAs (miRNAs). The ketogenic diet (KD) is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and adequate-protein diet that triggers the synthesis of ketone bodies, establishing ketosis. Recent and accumulating studies on human and animal models have shown that KD benefits neurodegenerative diseases in which cognition is affected. KD also can modulate miRNAs, these molecules are dysregulated in the brains of Alzheimer's Disease in which cognition is lost. In this mini-review, we will give an overview of the function of miRNAs in neurodevelopment and cognition. We will also explore how KD in human studies can enhance cognitive function and highlights the protective role of microRNAs in neurological conditions.

    Keywords: MicroRNAs, Cognitive Function, Ketogenic Diet, Ketone Bodies, biomarker

    Received: 15 Dec 2024; Accepted: 30 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Abrego-Guandique, Cione, Caroleo, Bonilla and Cannataro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Roberto Cannataro, University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.