THE ROLE OF DOPAMINE DEFICIENCY IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THE KETOGENIC DIET

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, resulting in dopamine deficiency and subsequent motor and non-motor impairments. Although the exact etiology of PD remains unclear, growing evidence implicates a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, alpha-synuclein pathology, and dopamine-derived neurotoxicity, including the effects of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL)(1-2).Dopamine plays a crucial role in the regulation of movement, motivation, cognition, and emotional processing. Its depletion disrupts basal ganglia circuitry, leading to the hallmark motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, as well as neuropsychiatric manifestations such as depression, apathy, and cognitive decline.(2-4) Despite significant advances in pharmacological therapies over the past decades, current treatments remain largely symptomatic and do not prevent disease progression.Recent research has increasingly focused on the role of dietary interventions as potential adjunctive therapeutic strategies.(5) Among these, the ketogenic diet has gained attention due to its ability to provide ketone bodies as an alternative energy source for the brain. Nutritional ketosis may improve mitochondrial efficiency, reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and potentially modulate alpha-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic neuron vulnerability.This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying dopamine depletion in Parkinson’s disease and explores emerging evidence supporting the ketogenic diet as a complementary approach to conventional therapy.(7) While preliminary findings are encouraging, further well-designed clinical trials are required to establish the efficacy, safety, and long-term benefits of ketogenic dietary interventions in Parkinson’s disease.

Ҳали таржима қилинмаган