My husband Steve, now 61-years-old, has early onset Alzheimer's disease. In May 2008, while he was screening for clinical trials, I came across information about a potential treatment in development: AC-1202, now called Axona.

As I learned about the potential treatment, I learned that consuming medium chain triglycerides (derived from coconut oil) resulted in improved cognition in about half of the persons with Alzheimer's or Mild Cognitive Impairment in their studies.

So, I gave my husband Steve some coconut oil. He had a dramatic response with a remarkable improvement in clock drawing and in his memory testing. Two months later, Steve continued to improve and other people confirmed that it was not my imagination.

Steve 's dramatic improvement began on the very day he started taking coconut oil. This was consistent with results of the first Axona study in which nearly half of the people had improved memory scores after taking just one dose of Axona.

Since we had changed nothing else in the months prior to or immediately after starting coconut oil, it 's reasonable that it was the cause for his improvement.

The way Steve explains the change he experienced, it was like the light bulb came back on the day he started taking coconut oil.

Why is Coconut Oil Beneficial to Alzheimer 's Patients?

One important feature of Alzheimer's disease is that the brain gradually develops insulin deficiency and resistance. As a result, glucose (which is the usual fuel for brain cells) cannot enter the neurons, so the neurons malfunction before eventually dying.

But there may be a way to help alleviate that problem.

Medium chain fatty acids are converted in the liver to ketones. Those ketones can serve as an alternative to glucose, which means they may potentially help cells stay alive and function better.

Beyond Alzheimer 's

Increased ketones can also benefit people suffering from other diseases, such as Parkinson 's, ALS (Lou Gehrig 's), multiple sclerosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, autism, Down 's syndrome, and Huntington 's chorea. Ketones can also serve as an alternative fuel for other cells in the body that are insulin resistant or cannot transport glucose, and could potentially lessen the effects of Diabetes I or II on the brain and other organs.

So What 's the Problem?

Medium chain triglycerides are made in the human mammary gland. But other than that, humans do not make medium chain fatty acids–so we must acquire them from foods.

Unfortunately, most Americans consume oils that don 't contain any medium chain fatty acids. But the good news is that medium chain triglycerides make up 70% of the saturated fats in coconut oil.

If you are at risk due to family history, consider making this dietary change as well for prevention. If your loved one is in assisted living, the doctor may be willing to prescribe coconut oil and/or MCT oil to be given at each meal, increasing gradually. Another alternative would be for the doctor to prescribe Axona.

How Should Coconut Oil Be Consumed?

Coconut oil can be substituted for any solid or liquid oil, lard, butter or margarine in baking or cooking on the stove, and can be mixed directly into foods already prepared. Some people take it straight with a spoon, but for most people it may be hard to swallow this way and more pleasant to take with food.

When cooking on the stove, coconut oil smokes if heated to greater than 350 degrees or medium heat. You can avoid this problem by adding a little olive or peanut oil. Coconut oil can be used at any temperature in the oven when mixed in foods.

Is This Safe?

Coconut oil and Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) oil are "Generally Regarded As Safe" by the FDA.

What Kind of Coconut Oil Should Be Used?

First you need to know that using coconut oil capsules is not an efficient way to give the oil, since the capsules are relatively expensive and contain only 1 gram of oil per capsule.

Instead, look for coconut oils that are non-hydrogenated with no transfat. Avoid coconut oils that are hydrogenated or super-heated because it changes the chemical structure of the fats.

Products that contain coconut oil include:

• Coconut milk is a combination of the oil and the very nutritious water from the coconut and most of the calories are from the oil. Look for brands with 10 to 13 grams of fat in 2 ounces. Look in the grocery store 's Asian section. Some brands are less expensive but are diluted with water.

• Coconut cream is mostly coconut milk and sometimes has added sugar.

• Flaked or grated coconut can be purchase unsweetened or sweetened and is a very good source of coconut oil and fiber and has about 15 grams of oil and 3 grams of fiber in ¼ cup.

• Coconut meat (frozen or canned) usually has a lot of added sugar and not much oil per serving.

• Fresh coconut can be cut up into pieces and eaten raw. A 2 inch by 2 inch piece has about 160 calories with 15 grams of oil and 4 grams of fiber.

• MCT oil (Medium Chain Triglyceride oil) is derived from coconut oil and can also be purchased in some health food stores or on-line. This may be useful for people who are on the go and do not have much time to cook. Also, MCT oil is used as energy and not stored as fat, so it may be useful for someone who wants to lose weight, if substituted for some of the other fats in the diet.

• Coconut water does not usually contain coconut oil, but contains many vitamins and minerals and has other health benefits. The electrolyte composition is similar to human plasma and is useful to prevent or treat dehydration.

How Much Should a Person Take?

If you take too much oil too fast, you may experience indigestion, cramping, or diarrhea.

To avoid these symptoms, take it with food and start with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or MCT oil per meal, increasing slowly as tolerated over a week or longer. If diarrhea develops, drop back to the previous level.

For most people, the goal would be to increase gradually to 4-9 tablespoons a day, depending on the size of the person, spread over 2-4 meals.

Mixing MCT oil and coconut oil could provide higher levels and a steady level of ketones. One formula is to mix 16 ounces MCT oil plus 12 ounces coconut oil in a quart jar and increase slowly as tolerated, starting with 1 teaspoon. This mixture will stay liquid at room temperature.

What About Children?

Children with Down 's syndrome and some children with autism show decreased glucose uptake in parts of the brain. A reasonable amount to give a child would be about 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil for every 10 pounds that the child weighs, 2 or 3 times a day.

Also, some children like the taste of coconut milk–1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons per 10 pounds of weight can be added to the diet 2 or 3 times a day. If you use coconut milk for a child, be sure to refrigerate it and toss it out after two days.

Do not add honey to coconut milk for children under 1 year old due to the risk of infection.

Will the Extra Fat in the Diet Cause Weight Gain?

Yes, it can. The best way to avoid gaining weight is to substitute coconut oil for most other fats and oils in the diet. If that isn 't enough, cut back on portion sizes of carbohydrates, such as breads, rice, potatoes, cereals, and other grains.

Hope for the Future

The case study about my husband, Steve–along with the data from other caregivers–has been reviewed by scientific communities and reported at international conferences. That was just the first step in helping engage researchers to conduct more formal studies.

Currently, Dr. Richard Veech of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is developing and testing a ketone ester that holds the potential to provide great relief to people with Alzheimer's as well as other diseases that result from insulin deficiency and/or resistance, including Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. However, it will likely be several more years until this is available to the general public.

In the meantime, coconut oil, MCT oil and/or Axona (which is now available by prescription and costs about $100 for one month of daily doses) provide alternative means of providing ketones to the brain.

Mary T. Newport, M.D. graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Read more–including articles, dietary guidelines, and FAQs–on her website and in her book Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?.