A ketone drink to increase cerebral ATP in PD 1.2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Supplementation with a ketone ester drink to increase cerebral ATP in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy
IRAS ID
257793
Contact name
Michele Hu
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
TdeltaS Ltd
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN10531043
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, affecting 2-3% of individuals >65. It is biologically defined by the death of brain neurons that release the chemical messenger dopamine. It is thought that PD is caused, in part, by problems in energy metabolism that lead to dopamine neuron cell death. Specifically, there is a decrease in the production of ATP—the energy currency of the cell—within dopamine neurons. Because the brain’s dopamine neurons are among the most energetically demanding cells in the body, they are particularly sensitive to ATP depletion, which constitutes an energy crisis that leads to cell death and the symptoms of PD.
Evidence suggests that altering the brain’s energy metabolism by providing neurons with a highly efficient source of fuel called ketone bodies can increase ATP levels in dopamine neurons, and, thereby, protect against the progression of PD. Historically, the only way to increase ketone body levels in humans has been through starvation or pseudo-starvation “ketogenic” diets, which are difficult to comply with and which may increase cardiovascular risk. Recently, however, the Clarke group at the University of Oxford invented a dietary ketone body (ΔG®) that can increase ketone body levels when taken as a nutritional supplement. Data in healthy humans has already demonstrated that ΔG® is tolerable, safe, and that it favorably alters energy metabolism. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ΔG® can be used to increase ATP levels in the brains of patients with PD and, thereby, perhaps help to rescue PD-sensitive dopamine neurons from energy crisis. For this study, we will recruit 12 PD patients, each of whom will undergo magnetic resonance imaging for ATP levels in their brains before and one hour after ingesting ΔG®.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0033
Date of REC Opinion
11 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion