Research Symposium

BIO

Colombian student currently attending FSU seeking a Bachelor of science in neuroscience to either attend medical school to become an endocrinologist or pursue a PhD. Currently a research assistant in Dr. Sheffler’s Integrative Science for Healthy Aging lab.

Relationship Between Ketone Levels, Anxiety, and Stress in Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Due to their global prevalence, stress and anxiety amongst older adults are becoming a major concern within the field of psychology. Recent studies suggest a link between diet and mental health, with ketogenic diets holding particular promise for reducing anxiety symptoms. In animal models, nutritional ketosis has been linked to a wide array of biological processes that may protect against stress and anxiety. Despite the therapeutic potential of ketone bodies, there is a noticeable gap in the literature surrounding their association with stress and anxiety in humans. Therefore, this study investigates whether high ketone levels correlate with lower levels of stress and anxiety in older adults participating in a dietary intervention.

Methods: From a dietary intervention study composed of 65 participants between the ages of 57 and 85, 10-week data were collected from 32 participants who were assigned to a Mediterranean ketogenic diet arm. Anxiety and stress were measured using two validated self-reported measures, the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Ketone levels were measured using urinalysis test strips; participants were instructed to perform a daily urinalysis test at home. Hierarchical linear regression was used to explore how average ketone levels during the program were related to anxiety and stress post-intervention, accounting for covariates.

Results: Analyses revealed a non-significant association between ketone levels and anxiety and stress (ps>.05).

Conclusions: Although our hypothesis was not supported, further research is needed to examine these research questions in a sample with clinically significant levels of mental health symptoms.

Keywords: Ketones, ketosis, anxiety, stress