Students: Jenna Dobry, Jessica Naidu, Rejimol Perika

Type of project: Nutraceutical, Basic, Translational

Grant Type: Undergraduate

Year Awarded: 2015, 2016, 2017

Supervisor: Dr. Rho

Institutions Affiliated: University of Calgary

Background: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by poor social and communication skills, cognitive rigidity, and lack of emotional regulation. The Ketogenic Diet (KD) has been effective at treating a number of other neurological disorders, like epilepsy. This project explored aspect of the KD on autism, looking at different features of it to identify what is helpful about it in a mouse model of autism. 

Impact: Autism is a pervasive disorder with very few treatments, most of which are not very effective. If the Ketogenic Diet can improve autism, it could help reduce the burden of what can be a very challenging condition.