Ketogenic diet and Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a common degenerative disorder in middle-aged and elderly individuals, has an unclear etiology and pathogenesis, and there is currently no cure. In recent years, the ketogenic diet (KD), a dietary regimen characterized by high-fat, extremely low carbohydrates, and moderate protein intake, has shown promise in the treatment of PD. This review systematically analyzes the multiple mechanisms through which KD exerts its effects in PD, such as energy metabolism reprogramming, neuroinflammation suppression, epigenetic regulation, and modulation of the brain-gut axis. The aim of this review is to provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the clinical application of the ketogenic diet as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for PD.