Medium‐chain fatty acids in combination with a multidomain lifestyle intervention in Alzheimer’s disease prevention: Protocol design to study implementation

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathology begins 20 to 30 years before clinical diagnosis. Thus, there is an opportunity to implement strategies to prevent the progression of AD. Insulin resistance in the brain causes a disruption in glucose utilisation. Medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFA) are readily available substrates for the synthesis of ketone bodies (KB), which are an alternative brain fuel not controlled by insulin. A constant supply of KB may close the energy gap in the AD‐prone brain, and in doing so prevent or delay symptom onset, or protect the brain from further degeneration. There is increasing evidence that multidomain lifestyle interventions with dietary components significantly impact cognitive decline. Yet, these interventions have not considered the effects MCFA supplementation, to ensure sufficient energy for the brain.