Researchers at the Buck Institute have discovered that ketone bodies, produced by the body during fasting, can directly interact with damaged proteins in the brain and aid their clearance through autophagy. The study found that the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate alters the solubility of misfolded proteins, facilitating their removal and reducing pathological aggregation.
The researchers used mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease and aging to test the effects of ketone esters on brain health. The results showed that treated animals displayed improvements in protein quality control and brain health, with reduced aggregation of insoluble brain proteins. Similar metabolites tested also showed effects equal to or better than β-hydroxybutyrate.
The study highlights a new form of metabolic regulation of protein quality control, which is not limited to energy supply or reduction of brain inflammation. Instead, it shows that ketone bodies can directly interact with damaged proteins and facilitate their clearance through autophagy.
Senior author John Newman noted that the discovery provides a powerful avenue for therapeutic applications in aging and neurodegenerative disease. The study’s findings have significant implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms of metabolism and its role in brain health, and offer new hope for developing accessible therapeutic interventions in aging and related diseases.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/ketone-bodies-autophagy-28154