07 Sep 2017 --- So-called “keto” diets have been gaining public attention for an array of weight loss and health benefit claims, with celebrities like actress Gwyneth Paltrow singing their praises. But scientists are still uncovering what exactly happens in ketosis, when carbohydrate intake is so low that the body shifts to producing ketones to help fuel organs. Now, two independent mouse studies have provided evidence that a ketogenic diet improves memory in older animals, as well as the chances that an animal lives to old age. The findings, published this week in the journal Cell Metabolism, have raised hopes that ketogenic diets can improve both longevity and healthspan – the time someone lives in good health – but further testing in humans is needed.
