General Health, Musculoskeletal, Neurology

Addressing Pain Using a Mediterranean Ketogenic Nutrition Program in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Chronic pain is common among older adults and can impair their physical and mental well-being, leading to a reduced quality of life. A recent study aimed to assess the impact of a pilot Mediterranean Ketogenic Nutrition program on pain in older adults with possible mild cognitive impairment and to investigate if pain relief correlated with adherence to the diet.

The participants were 58 older adults between the ages of 60 and 85 who were randomized into one of two groups for a six-week program:

The Mediterranean Ketogenic Nutrition Adherence (MKNA) program included nutrition education, group sessions, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral skills.

The Mediterranean Ketogenic Nutrition Education (MKNE) program included nutrition education and group sessions only.

Both groups received personalized nutrition recommendations for a whole-foods diet that gradually shifted from a 50% fat, 25% protein, and 25% carbohydrate ratio to a 70% fat, 25% protein, and 5% carbohydrate ratio.

The researchers analyzed the participants’ self-reported pain and adherence to the MKN diet at baseline, six weeks, and three months post-intervention.

Results:

• Both groups showed clinically significant reductions in pain.
• Greater adherence to the MKN during the six-week intervention –– regardless of the group participants were assigned to –– was associated with better pain-related outcomes.

In this pilot trial, both the MKNA and MKNE arms led to clinically meaningful pain improvements in older adults, particularly in those with the highest adherence. These results support the potential benefits of the Mediterranean ketogenic diet for pain management and suggest the need for larger, more targeted future studies.