Abstract
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. There are case reports and other evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet. A less-strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins or low glycemic index treatment, may also be effective. Clinical trials and studies in animal models suggest that ketogenic diets provide neuroprotective and disease-modifying benefits for a number of adult neurodegenerative disorders. A review of the literature, case studies, and sample low-carbohydrate menus are included.