Coconut Oil for Alzheimer's

[Travis95]

Hi,

There were posts about coconut oil in this forum, but the latest one was 4 years ago, so I thought to bring up this topic again.

My mum has Alzheimer diagnosed at age 54, she is now 56.
There has been many speculation online about Coconut Oil cures/slows down the progression of Alzheimer's Disease, but almost all of them quote the same source -
"ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: What is there was a cure?" by Mary T. Newport, M.D.

In addition, I found videos, articles and research papers about coconut oil and Alzheimer's disease:
TEDx Talk by the author:

Article supporting the claim: https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-05-29/coconut-oil-for-alzheimers/
Research paper supporting (Page 6, section 3.7): https://www.researchgate.net/profil...UT-OIL-A-REVIEW-OF-POTENTIAL-APPLICATIONS.pdf

However, I am adamant to try it because there are sources which claim there might be negative effects that worsen the disease instead of helping:

Sites that claim the risk of taking coconut oil:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about...lternative-therapies/coconut-oil-and-dementia
https://www.dementiablog.org/coconut-oil-alzheimers-separating-fact-fiction/
Unsure about results: https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Risk-factors/Coconut-oil

Has anyone actually tried taking coconut oil, do you mind sharing the results?

Before I try it on my mum, I will consult my doctor to see what she thinks. I am posting this in advance so I get more information before the consultation.

 

[nitram]

There were posts about coconut oil in this forum, but the latest one was 4 years ago,

There have been more recent posts:
https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/search/30145055/?q=coconut+oil&t=post&o=date

 

[Travis95]

There have been more recent posts:
https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/search/30145055/?q=coconut+oil&t=post&o=date

Thank you for reminding. However, I am trying to discuss solely on coconut oil in this section.

 

[Palerider]

Hi,

There were posts about coconut oil in this forum, but the latest one was 4 years ago, so I thought to bring up this topic again.

My mum has Alzheimer diagnosed at age 54, she is now 56.
There has been many speculation online about Coconut Oil cures/slows down the progression of Alzheimer's Disease, but almost all of them quote the same source -
"ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: What is there was a cure?" by Mary T. Newport, M.D.

In addition, I found videos, articles and research papers about coconut oil and Alzheimer's disease:
TEDx Talk by the author:

Article supporting the claim: https://www.alzheimers.net/2013-05-29/coconut-oil-for-alzheimers/
Research paper supporting (Page 6, section 3.7): https://www.researchgate.net/profil...UT-OIL-A-REVIEW-OF-POTENTIAL-APPLICATIONS.pdf

However, I am adamant to try it because there are sources which claim there might be negative effects that worsen the disease instead of helping:

Sites that claim the risk of taking coconut oil:
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about...lternative-therapies/coconut-oil-and-dementia
https://www.dementiablog.org/coconut-oil-alzheimers-separating-fact-fiction/
Unsure about results: https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimer-s-disease/Risk-factors/Coconut-oil

Has anyone actually tried taking coconut oil, do you mind sharing the results?

Before I try it on my mum, I will consult my doctor to see what she thinks. I am posting this in advance so I get more information before the consultation.

There is no known cure for dementia, whether that be Alzheimer's or more rarer forms of dementia. I agree there is some scope for finding ways of slowing the disease, for which there are already drugs on the market namely four which I have posted details about before on here.

As far as I am aware and I have searched for alternatives, there is no evidence that cocunut oil is curative in dementia. May I suggest you go back and read carefully the information you have found and ask yourself if that information clearly states curative findings or if it proposes further research work before a defintive answer can be given.

In answer to your question "Has anyone actually tried taking coconut oil, do you mind sharing the results?", you can't pose that question bluntly on any forum as you have already biased the very question you were asking. Any such trial would have to be blind and then possibly double blind.

Edited: In other words a placebo versus coconut oil

 

[Kevinl]

Didn't work for my wife, that said it is a useful cooking ingredient I still use it now. If you get it from a local "ethnic" shop it's a lot cheaper than a health food shop or a supermarket.
If it did work you'd expect that in countries where it's used widely that az wouldn't occur but it does, similar claims are made about turmeric, I tried that too but that did nothing either.
K

 

[Spamar]

It’s good for sunburn!

 

[Palerider]

It’s good for sunburn!

I prefer coconut macaroons ...yummy

 

[Palerider]

I am not sure if the information available on coconut oil needs to be further clarified, sometimes described as 'energy for the brain', I think this is too simplistic when we are talking about a part of the human body that is more easily damaged and less easily fixed.

 

[Beate]

Take all the coconut oil you want, just don't think it will make a difference, and then you won't be disappointed. If it was a miracle cure, everyone would be taking it.

 

[Palerider]

Didn't work for my wife, that said it is a useful cooking ingredient I still use it now. If you get it from a local "ethnic" shop it's a lot cheaper than a health food shop or a supermarket.
If it did work you'd expect that in countries where it's used widely that az wouldn't occur but it does, similar claims are made about turmeric, I tried that too but that did nothing either.
K

If a fix was so simple, we all wouldn't be here talking about coconut oil

 

[Palerider]

Take all the coconut oil you want, just don't think it will make a difference, and then you won't be disappointed. If it was a miracle cure, everyone would be taking it.

I agree Beate

 

[canary]

I use coconut oil in cooking. It hasnt made any difference to OH, but makes nice roast potatoes.

 

[Palerider]

I think the young person who asked this is desperately sad and looking for something, anything to make the situation with his mother better.

Believe me we have all been there. I certainly believe that living and eating healthily is good for all of us, including people with dementia. Coconut oil may be part of that. Fresh air and exercise is even better (in my book). Whatever you do - enjoy it - make happy memories - but don’t expect a cure. That’s too hard on yourself and your mum. Find someone outside the family to talk to (including about coconut oil). ❤️

Wise words Sarahdun

 

[Palerider]

I use coconut oil in cooking. It hasnt made any difference to OH, but makes nice roast potatoes.

When it comes to roast pots I'm a traditionalist, drippin or goose fat

 

[Palerider]

I think the young person who asked this is desperately sad and looking for something, anything to make the situation with his mother better.

Believe me we have all been there. I certainly believe that living and eating healthily is good for all of us, including people with dementia. Coconut oil may be part of that. Fresh air and exercise is even better (in my book). Whatever you do - enjoy it - make happy memories - but don’t expect a cure. That’s too hard on yourself and your mum. Find someone outside the family to talk to (including about coconut oil). ❤️

I agree, just thinking about the despseration anyone would feel at the start of this awful journey. I wish I could help, but one thing I won't be a part of is giving false hope.

 

[Canadian Joanne]

I don't think it works but if you want to try, no great harm done. Just be aware that the amount of coconut oil as touted by Mary Newport may cause diarrhea. Also coconut oil is extremely high in cholesterol so that needs to be taken into consideration. See the Mayo Clinic's take on it. For some reason, I am unable to add a link.

To me, these miracle 'cures' simply raise false hope. For that reason, I am angered by these claims. If a person is making money from the 'cure', I am highly skeptical. Mary Newport sold a book.

By the way, Steven Newport, Mary's husband, died of Alzheimer's in 2015.

 

[Lawson58]

If you walk into any of the big discount pharmacy wharehouses, you will see shelf after shelf of vitamins and supplements, all having 'claims' as to their efficacy for all sorts of conditions and health concerns.

Very few of them have been properly trialled and if you read the fine print on the labels, there are lots of words and phrases like 'may be helpful in the treatment of........' and loads of similar nature. The companies that manufacture and sell these products are obviously in the business of making money so they will use all every sales pitch imaginable and happily take advantage of the latest fads.

That is not to say that all supplements are destined to fail and Vitamin B12 and iron readily come to mind in having great benefits but they are only a part of a person's health needs, not a cure. Anything is worth a try but be aware that it may raise false hopes that could be quite expensive.

 

[Spamar]

I was being serious. In my youth, spent by the sea, the local chemist made a very effective sun cream whose main ingredient was coconut oil. Came in bright pink pot! But it worked!

 

[LadyA]

We tried coconut oil for my late husband way back when it was first being talked about. His doctor had read about it, and suggested that we try it, he said that he couldn't see that it would help, but it was a relatively harmless substance, and worth a try. So, we did, and it made no difference to the progression of the illness at all.
Makes a lovely skin moisturiser though!

 

[Palerider]

There is an up-to-date review on nutrition in those with Alzheimers and Parkinsons that links to the use of ketone esters discussed in the youtube link originally posted, I hope this may of some help in understanding the complexity of what seems a simple solution. Please note this is not research, it is a review that gos on to recommend further research. Section 7. Adverse Effects of the Ketogenic Diet is particualry helpful in outlining the negative aspects of such diets, that may include coconut oil.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6356942/pdf/nutrients-11-00169.pdf