Coconut Oil and Brain Health: Research on Alzheimer's, Dementia & Memory
Coconut Oil and Brain Health: Research on Alzheimer's, Dementia & Memory
Scientific studies show promising results for coconut oil's role in supporting brain health:
Improves Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Patients:
- Significant cognitive improvements - Meta-analysis found coconut oil improved cognitive scores in Alzheimer's patients compared to control groups, with consistent results across multiple studies Navyprofessional PMC Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
- Enhanced memory and mental abilities - Study of 44 Alzheimer's patients showed improvements in memory, calculation, attention, orientation, and language after following a coconut oil-enriched Mediterranean diet for 21 days PubMed Central PubMed Clinical Study
- Better orientation and language skills - Clinical trial found patients taking 40ml daily coconut oil showed statistically significant improvement in orientation and language-building areas Dermatology Times PubMed Spanish Study
- Nearly 90% reported improvement - Survey of 288 caregivers found 89.2% reported improvement in Alzheimer's patients using ketogenic strategies including coconut oil, with benefits in memory, behavior, speech, and daily activities Health Medical Research Archives Study
May Help Slow Disease Progression:
- Research suggests medium-chain triglycerides in coconut oil might slow the advancement of Alzheimer's disease Navyprofessional MDPI Review
- Comprehensive review found coconut oil's components and metabolism show positive potential to treat Alzheimer's as a nutritional supplement Vocal Media ScienceDirect Review
How Coconut Oil Helps the Brain:
Provides Alternative Brain Fuel:
- Medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil convert into ketone bodies that provide neurons with an alternate energy source, which may improve cognitive function PubMed PMC Study
- In Alzheimer's, certain brain areas lose their ability to use glucose properly; ketones from coconut oil provide backup fuel for these malfunctioning brain cells Healthline NeuroTrition
- Canadian studies showed people with Alzheimer's or pre-dementia had a 230% increase in brain energy from ketones after taking MCT oil, with improvements in memory and language functions PubMed Food for the Brain Foundation
Addresses Brain Energy Crisis:
- Ketone bodies enhance brain mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress, offering neuroprotective benefits that may slow neurodegenerative disease progression ScienceDirect PMC Ketone Review
- Adults with mild cognitive impairment given MCT oil showed significant memory recall improvement within just 90 minutes Murdoch University IQ Bar Article
Additional Brain-Protective Benefits:
- Ketones help protect brain neurons from the negative effects of beta-amyloid peptide, the protein responsible for brain plaques in Alzheimer's patients Healthline NeuroTrition
- Medium-chain triglycerides from coconut oil reduced beta-amyloid accumulation, reduced brain inflammation, decreased neuronal damage, and maintained gut microbiota balance in animal studies ResearchGate Frontiers in Nutrition
Important Research Findings:
Genetic Considerations:
- 24-week study with 120 Alzheimer's patients found virgin coconut oil improved cognitive scores in people carrying the APOE ε4 gene (genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's) compared to non-carriers Coconuts & Kettlebells Wiley Study
Individual Variations:
- Benefits varied depending on sex, presence of type 2 diabetes, and severity of dementia, with women and non-diabetics showing better improvements bareLUXE Skincare PubMed Study
Recommended Usage: Most studies used 30-40ml (2-3 tablespoons) of virgin coconut oil daily, typically divided between meals.
Important Notes:
- Use virgin (unrefined) coconut oil for best results - it contains beneficial polyphenols and bioactive compounds
- Experts estimate at least 30% of Alzheimer's and other dementias could be avoided through healthy diet, physical activity, and lifestyle modifications Health Medical Research Archives
- Coconut oil should complement, not replace, medical treatment
- Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting coconut oil supplementation, especially if you have Alzheimer's or dementia