Jakob Norgren
About me
I completed my PhD in 2023, with Prof. Miia Kivipelto as my principal supervisor. My thesis, titled "The Impact of Macronutritional Composition and Ketosis on Cognitive Health: From Normal Aging to Alzheimer's Disease", can be downloaded here:
Alongside my doctoral project, I played a leading role in the conceptualization and planning of an ongoing clinical trial at the Karolinska University Hospital: "COGNIFOOD鈥擨nvestigating the therapeutic potential of changing the dietary carbohydrate/fat-ratio to prevent cognitive decline and Alzheimer pathology: A pilot study". The trial is funded by the af Jochnick foundation via the FINGERS Brain Health Institute and data for analysis is expected in 2026. More info:Since January 2024, I have been employed as a postdoc in Prof. Maria Eriksdotter's group, working on a project focused on drug repurposing for the prevention and treatment of dementia. Statins are of particular interest in our project, which is led by Sara Garcia Ptacek. Thanks to a grant from The Swedish Alzheimer Foundation (Alzheimerfonden), I have also initiated my own project: "Optimizing dietary recommendations for Alzheimer prevention: Investigating a possible mismatch between official dietary guidelines and APOE4-specific food adaptation."
Research
It is well established that lifestyle influences the risk of chronic diseases, but more detailed knowledge is needed to guide effective prevention strategies. In my doctoral project, I investigated the impact of nutrition on cognitive health in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. I am particularly interested in macronutritional composition and the effects of the metabolic state known as ketosis.
My project included the planning and analysis of the clinical trial "Coffee & Cream, " where we examined the ketogenic effect of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) and coconut oil in combination with time-restricted carbohydrate intake. Some promising pilot trials on ketogenic diets for promoting brain health have led to growing interest in this area of research. However, it remains unclear how important ketosis itself is in mediating the potential health effects of strict carbohydrate restriction.
Results from my doctoral project suggest that even moderate changes in the carbohydrate-to-fat ratio may influence cognitive function among older individuals at risk for dementia. My current aim is to replicate these findings using data from other observational studies. This research question will also be addressed in an upcoming intervention study.
I am interested in gene鈥揹iet interactions, particularly the role of apolipoprotein E (APOE), which is associated with both dementia risk and macronutrient metabolism. Advancing knowledge in this area may contribute to more personalized dietary recommendations in the future. Additionally, I am engaged in the development of improved methods for nutritional epidemiology, drawing on theories from compositional data analysis and causal inference.
Since dietary factors affect many of the same biomarkers as statins and diabetes medications, I also find it valuable to study the effects of such drugs on cognitive health outcomes in parallel with dietary research.
Articles
- Journal article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2025;15(1):18890
- Journal article: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUTRITION. 2024;8:103159
- Article: JOURNAL OF NUTRITION. 2023;153(12):3506-3520
- Article: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUTRITION. 2023;7(6):100096
- Article: FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE. 2021;13:716594
- Article: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM. 2020;318(2):E184-E188
- Article: FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION. 2020;7:40
All other publications
- Conference publication: CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NUTRITION. 2024;8:103625
- Doctoral thesis: 2023
- Editorial comment: FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION. 2023;10:1333933
Grants
- Optimizing dietary recommendations for Alzheimer prevention: Investigating a possible mismatch between official dietary guidelines and APOE4-specific food adaptationThe Swedish Alzheimer Foundation
- Should dietary recommendations to promote cognitive health be adapted to APOE-genotype?The Swedish Dementia Foundation
Employments
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, 探花精选, 2024-2026
Degrees and Education
- Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, 探花精选, 2023