Ketones to the Rescue? Rethinking Schizophrenia Treatment with BHB

Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. One of the key issues in schizophrenia is that the brain struggles to use glucose—the main source of energy—effectively. This study explored whether β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a compound naturally produced during a ketogenic (low-carb, high-fat) diet, could help improve brain function in this context.

Researchers used a mouse model of schizophrenia-like behavior triggered by a drug called MK-801, which temporarily blocks certain brain receptors. They found that both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) treatment with BHB reduced these schizophrenia-like symptoms. Specifically, BHB improved the mice's social behaviors, reduced hyperactivity, and restored normal brain responses to sound—key features often disrupted in schizophrenia.

These findings suggest that BHB might offer a new therapeutic approach for schizophrenia, by giving the brain an alternative energy source when glucose use is impaired—without requiring a strict ketogenic diet.

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