Augmentation with ketone bodies improves cognitive function in AD patients

Accera, Inc., a biotechnology company delivering breakthrough therapies in central nervous system diseases, announced data which showed that augmentation with ketone bodies significantly improved cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.  

An early feature of AD is region specific declines in cerebral glucose metabolism. One strategy has been to supplement the brain's normal glucose supply with ketone bodies.  The company's data was drawn from two clinical studies which examined the cognitive effects of induced ketosis.  In both acute and chronic dosing, AC-1202 (Axona®) significantly induced ketosis two hours after administration.  Further analysis of the studies revealed that patients administered Axona who lacked the epsilon 4 variant of the APOE gene (E4(-)), demonstrated significant improvement from baseline values in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and improvement compared to placebo.  In the population of patients who were both APOE4(-) and dosage compliant, more pronounced improvements in ADAS-cog scores were observed at each assessment timepoint (Day 45 and Day 90). At Day 45 the improvement in ADAS-cog score relative to Placebo was 6.26>

Dr. Samuel Henderson, Vice President of Research, will present these findings at the 25th International Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International. "We firmly believe that addressing the significant decrease in cerebral glucose in Alzheimer's patients is essential in combating this devastating disease," said Dr. Henderson. " This pharmacogenomic finding provides both insight into the mechanism of ketone-based therapies for Alzheimer's disease, and also allows for the identification of patients who may respond best to therapy."

Dr. Henderson will present an oral presentation titled Ketone Bodies As a Therapeutic for Alzheimer's Disease during the "Future of Treatments and Diagnosis" session on Thursday, March 11 from 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern European Time in the Olympia Hall A of the Grand Hotel Palace Thessaloniki.