Protective Effects of the Ketogenic Diet on Cognitive Impairment Induced by Status Epilepticus in Rats: Modulation of Neuroinflammation Through the NF‐κB Signaling Pathway

TL;DR

A ketogenic diet helps protect against brain damage and cognitive issues in rats with epilepsy by reducing inflammation through the NF-κB pathway.

Contribution

This study reveals that the ketogenic diet reduces cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage via modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with status epilepticus.

Findings

KD improved cognitive performance in rats with status epilepticus.

KD reduced hippocampal damage and inhibited NF-κB pathway activation.

KD decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and p-IκB.

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by abnormal synchronized neuronal discharges, leading to cognitive dysfunction. The ketogenic diet (KD) has shown promise as an effective treatment for drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE), reducing seizures and improving cognitive and behavioral outcomes in patients. However, the precise neuroprotective mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of KD on cognitive impairment and hippocampal neurocircuit damage in rats with status epilepticus (SE), with a focus on a nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) signaling. SE was induced using pilocarpine, and rats were assigned to KD and control groups. After 7 and 20 days of KD treatment, cognitive function was assessed using the elevated plus‐maze, Morris water maze, novel object recognition, and Y‐maze tests. Hippocampal tissue was analyzed for structural damage of neurocircuit. NF‐κB pathway activation was evaluated by western blot and immunofluorescence. Results indicated that KD significantly improved cognitive performance and reduced hippocampal damage. Additionally, KD inhibited NF‐κB pathway activation, evidenced by decreased levels of NF‐κB, p‐IκB, and proinflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that KD may alleviate cognitive deficits and hippocampal damage by modulating the NF‐κB signaling, providing insights into its neuroprotective mechanisms and potential as an alternative treatment for epilepsy.

Ketogenic diet has therapeutic effects on neurocircuitry damage and cognitive impairment due to status epilepticus in rats by modulating the NF‐κB signaling pathway.

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