Is Coconut Oil a Cure for Alzheimers?

If you’re looking for a natural cure for Alzheimers you may be interested in this story….

A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times reports a woman improved her husband’s symptoms of Alzheimers with coconut oil.

Dr. Mary Newport had watched her husband Steve, slowly succumb to the ravaging effects of Alzheimers disease. About 6 years ago he began struggling with daily tasks. He told his wife he didn’t know what was happening and he felt confused.

An early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s was made and he eventually tested positive for the gene that puts someone at a higher risk for developing early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Steve was put on several different medications to help slow the progression of the disease but his symptoms continued to get worse. He soon lost interest in eating and suffered dramatic weight loss; further worsening his condition.

Seeking a cure for Alzheimers, Dr. Newport looked at clinical drug trials that could offer better results than the medications her husband was currently taking.

A Fatty Brain is a Healthy Brain

During her research, Dr. Newport discovered a new drug that showed amazing results – proven memory improvement.

“Most drugs talk about slowing the progression of the disease…but you never hear the word ‘improvement.’ Right then I knew I had to find out more,” she said.

She uncovered the new drug’s patent application on the internet and learned its primary ingredient was an oil made up of medium chain triglycerides, also known as MCT Oil.

Research has shown that Alzheimer’s patient’s brains have difficulty metabolizing glucose; the main source of energy for your brain. Without glucose your brain cells may die.

But scientists have discovered an alternative source of energy for your brain cells – special fats called ketones.

Dr. Theodore VanItallie, a medical doctor and professor emeritus at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in New York City has been researching ketones for more than 35 years.

“Ketones are a high-energy fuel that nourishes the brain,” VanItallie said, explaining that when you are starving, the body produces ketones naturally. When you eat MCT oil, the liver converts it into ketones. In fact, during the first few weeks of life, ketones provide about 25% of the energy newborn babies need to survive.

Coconut Oil – a Natural Cure for Alzheimers?

Dr. Newport’s research uncovered another startling fact – virgin coconut oil is more than 60% MCT oil and the new study drug derived its oil from coconut trees.

Unfortunately, Steve was not accepted into the first clinical trial. His Alzheimer’s symptoms worsened to the point he was unable to remember the season, month or day of the week.

Mary’s husband now tested so low on mental examinations that his results categorized him with severe Alzheimer’s.

“And then it hit me,” she said. “Why don’t we just try coconut oil as a dietary supplement? What have we got to lose? If the MCT oil in it worked for them, why couldn’t it work for us?”

Though not a neurologist, Dr. Newport’s medical background and classes in biochemistry in medical school helped her understand how MCT oil is converted into ketones and how it can help patients who can’t metabolize glucose.

On the way home from work, she picked up a bottle of non-hydrogenated virgin coconut oil at her local health food store.

The patent application for the experimental drug included dosage information and she was able to convert the required dosage with some simple math.

Before & After Photos of Clock Drawings by Steve Newport – St. Peterburg Times

The next morning she mixed 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil into her husband’s oatmeal. On the way to the second drug screening she asked Steve what the day,month and year was – and he answered correctly!

“It was like the oil kicked in and he could think clearly again,” Dr. Newport said. “We were ecstatic.” Steve continued taking the oil everyday and by the fifth day there was tremendous improvement.

Doctors conducted a test to measure any change in Steve’s progress; he was instructed to draw a picture of a clock. After 2 weeks of coconut oil treatment there was a dramatic difference in Steve’s ability to convey the detail of a clock face.

More than 5 months later, Steve’s tremors have stopped, the visual disturbances that prevented him from reading have disappeared, and he has become more social and interested in those around him.

Dr. Newport acknowledges that this may not be a cure for Alzheimers, but she remarked, “It appears the oil is helping.”

Other studies have shown the potential health benefits of ketones – A study in 2005 showed patients with Parkinson’s disease reduced tremors & stiffness when they ate a ketogenic diet for one month.

Click here to download Dr. Mary Newport’s report on coconut oil and its effect on Alzheimer’s disease.  Coconut Oil Alzheimer’s Study  

Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil

While coconut oil may not be a cure for Alzheimers disease, it does offer many benefits to one’s diet.

Virgin coconut oil is non-hydrogenated and is high in lauric acid, a potent antimicrobial. One of the most popular benefits of this type of acid is how it may help balance your cholesterol levels and improve your skin and hair.

It’s important to consult your physician before trying coconut oil at home. Ingesting too much of one type of fat can be dangerous and could cause diarrhea and vomiting. This article is not advocating that the above information is a cure for Alzheimers disease; it is a report of one person’s experiences with coconut oil.

Research References:

Tampabay.com – St. Petersburg Times – Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Ketone bodies as a therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. Henderson ST. Neurotherapeutics. 2008 Jul;5(3):470-80.

Ketones: metabolism’s ugly duckling. VanItallie TB, Nufert TH. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, 10025, USA. Nutrition Reviews. 2003 Oct;61(10):327-41.

Ketone bodies, potential therapeutic uses. Veech RL, Chance B, Kashiwaya Y, Lardy HA, Cahill GF Jr. Unit on Metabolic Control, LMMB/NIAAA, Rockville, Maryland, USA. IUBMB Life. 2001 Apr;51(4):241-7.