Introduction:
Coconut oil components include ketone bodies. It was thought that ketone bodies were responsible for affecting the condition called Alzheimer’s disease. These ketone bodies are thought to provide energy to the brain's cells. Many studies have found that coconut oil does help with Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies are required about coconut oil's role in Alzheimer’s disease.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition that is characterized by dementia. It affects the parts of the brain that control thoughts, memory, and language. It is a degenerative disorder in which brain cells and their connections are affected. It is a progressive disorder in which symptoms start with memory loss, and finally, the individual finds difficulty responding to the environment.
Alzheimer’s disease is considered a brain disorder, and the changes in the brain may be due to the deposition of certain proteins. In this condition, the shrinkage of the brain occurs, and the slow death of brain cells can be observed. Gradual loss of memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills can be seen in this condition.
The build-up of proteins called amyloid and tau proteins in the brain is the cause of this condition. Accumulating these proteins as plaque and tangles obstruct the transmission of the nerve cells in the brain. This may result in memory loss, thinking, and behavior. It is estimated that almost 24 million individuals are affected by Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. The condition can only be managed to slow down the disease and reduce the symptoms. Incorporating regular exercises, a healthy diet, social skills, staying mentally active, and taking protective measures against head trauma can help reduce the risk of the development of AD.
How Does Coconut Oil Help with Alzheimer’s Disease?
The use of nutrition to prevent the condition called Alzheimer’s disease is considered to be promising. This may be because of its low cost, simplicity, accessibility, and safety. Coconut oil was used to treat dementia.
Coconut oil contains medium-chained triglycerides. These triglycerides are converted to ketones in the liver during digestion. Ketone bodies are naturally produced when fat gets converted to energy. Ketone bodies are thought to prevent neuron degeneration.
Glucose is considered the main source of energy for the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease, the neurons lose their ability to metabolize glucose due to insulin resistance. Because of a lack of energy in the brain, the neurons eventually die.
At this stage, the ketone bodies in coconut oil provide alternative energy to the brain. Coconut oil provides ketone bodies and increases their level. This makes the brain work efficiently.
Another alternative is the ketogenic diet or fasting. The ketone bodies can be increased in the body through this method. A fatty acid named lauric acid is found predominantly in coconut oil. Lauric acid can pass through the blood-brain barrier and stimulate ketogenesis within the brain astrocytes.
Importance of Glucose Metabolism:
Studies have proven that diabetes is associated with dementia. Diabetes is a condition in which there is resistance to insulin and reduced production of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for the conversion of glucose into energy.
Dementia is characterized by localized insulin resistance in the brain cells. This causes synaptic failure and cognitive decline. Individuals affected by dementia experience a lack of glucose supply to the brain neurons. Hence, an alternative energy source is needed for neurons in the brain.
In the case of glucose deficiency, the brain depends on an alternative energy source called ketone bodies. Researchers have found that a diet containing low carbohydrates and high fat from coconut oil can improve cognition in dementia cases. Coconut oil increases the levels of ketone bodies in the body, providing an alternative energy source for the brain.
The evidence available is little about using coconut oil in dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Another study conducted among those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease showed improved cognitive function upon including coconut oil in their diet. This treatment approach has recently been of increased interest.
A Spanish study was conducted among 44 individuals with Alzheimer's disease. These were administered with 1.33 fluid ounces (fl oz) of coconut oil or a daily placebo. Individuals who received coconut oil exhibited improvements in cognitive functions like orientation and language skills.
Coconut is found to contain many cytokinins and plant phenols. These components help inhibit the accumulation of beta-amyloid that generally occurs in Alzheimer’s disease.
A study provided evidence that coconut oil helps inhibit the development of certain conditions like obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and elevated blood pressure, which are considered to increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Limitations of Coconut Oil:
As clinical trials are absent, coconut oil cannot be recommended as a treatment for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Many studies have found that coconut oil intake can improve blood HDL cholesterol parameters without altering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglycerides. It was also found that coconut oil has no harmful effects on lipid metabolism.
The explanation for this is that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are absorbed rapidly from the gut without pancreatic lipase activity and are oxidized rapidly in the liver to produce energy. Hence, these do not give rise to cholesterol and are not accumulated in the adipose tissue.
Increased amounts of coconut oil can be harmful to health. Because of the conflicting effects of coconut, the jury is not sure about the metabolic effects of coconut oil.
Conclusion:
Coconut oil can be found in nature easily because of its nutritive value. Because of its low cost and easy availability, it can be considered for use in dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Coconut oil is found to provide an alternative energy source for the brain without a primary source. It tends to increase the levels of ketone bodies in the body. These are responsible for helping prevent neuron degeneration and, thus, can help treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, it becomes important to know about the role of coconut oil in Alzheimer’s disease.
