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Can Coconut Oil Be Used For Dementia?
Question: I am doing research on coconut oil for dementia and considering giving it to my 89 yr old mother who has dementia to see if it will help her. Coconut oil seems to be controversial, as I have read pros and cons. I don't want to give her anything to hurt her, (I don't know whether it will hurt or help her cholesterol), but I am thinking that it would be worth a try. I would like to know your opinion, or please direct me to a reputable source for information on coconut oil, dementia, and high cholesterol. She is on Seroquil for dementia and Metformin for diabetes (not sure of spelling)
Please include this in her medical history. She also had her gall bladder removed and surgery for diverticulitis about 5 yrs ago. She has problems with constipation.
Please include this in her medical history. She also had her gall bladder removed and surgery for diverticulitis about 5 yrs ago. She has problems with constipation.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern and your frustration leading you to seek alternative sources.
Coconut oil is a product which has been discussed for several years. The trouble is that while you inquire about reputable sources I am afraid there is not such a source. By a trusted source us physicians mean a study or clinical trial comparing usually a group of patients on the medication under study with a group under placebo. It is only that way that it can be verified whether there is any significant benefit between the two groups. Unfortunately, there are no such studies for coconut oil up to now. It is only separate stories from patients or even doctors, but they do not exclude placebo effect or the possibility may be due to simple fluctuations of the condition (because some fluctuations do happen).
There is one product which contains fractionated coconut oil for which there is a study. It is called Axona and marketed as medical food for dementia. There is one study for it on a serious journal, but only the one since 2009, no other studies apart that have shown benefit so it is not widely accepted. However, if you really want to give it a try, it may be attempted as it has the added benefit over other types of coconut oil of not affecting lipids. Can read the article at this link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
That being said I wonder what other treatments have been tried. You mention Seroquel but it doesn’t help for dementia, it merely addresses psychotic symptoms like hallucinations. There are other types of medication, the cholinesterase inhibitors group (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and memantine which are indicated for use in dementia. So I would try those before alternative treatments as you do not seem to have exhausted the approved medications.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern and your frustration leading you to seek alternative sources.
Coconut oil is a product which has been discussed for several years. The trouble is that while you inquire about reputable sources I am afraid there is not such a source. By a trusted source us physicians mean a study or clinical trial comparing usually a group of patients on the medication under study with a group under placebo. It is only that way that it can be verified whether there is any significant benefit between the two groups. Unfortunately, there are no such studies for coconut oil up to now. It is only separate stories from patients or even doctors, but they do not exclude placebo effect or the possibility may be due to simple fluctuations of the condition (because some fluctuations do happen).
There is one product which contains fractionated coconut oil for which there is a study. It is called Axona and marketed as medical food for dementia. There is one study for it on a serious journal, but only the one since 2009, no other studies apart that have shown benefit so it is not widely accepted. However, if you really want to give it a try, it may be attempted as it has the added benefit over other types of coconut oil of not affecting lipids. Can read the article at this link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/
That being said I wonder what other treatments have been tried. You mention Seroquel but it doesn’t help for dementia, it merely addresses psychotic symptoms like hallucinations. There are other types of medication, the cholinesterase inhibitors group (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and memantine which are indicated for use in dementia. So I would try those before alternative treatments as you do not seem to have exhausted the approved medications.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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