Coconut Oil as a Treatment for Dementia : My Story

By Catherine Frayne

Coconut oil as a treatment for dementia is a subject many of my caregivers ask about. I was blessed to meet, Catherine Frayne, author and caregiver. She has agreed to be a contributing editor on our site. She will share her experiences with her mother and the use of coconut oil as a treatment for dementia.

‘Where is it we are going again Catherine?’ Mammy asks for the umpteenth time. To the hospital for your appointment Mam’, I calmly respond. ‘Oh and what’s this it’s for? Sure there’s nothing wrong with me is there?’ ‘Ah no, it’s just a memory test Mam’. ‘Oh that’s right, that’s grand. Aren’t they taking great interest in me at my age? Thank God I don’t have Alzheimer’s anyway.

I’d rather lose my legs than have that’, she happily announces. My heart sinks as I recall the Geriatrician's  diagnosis a year before. ‘I’m afraid your Mother has Alzheimer’s. Her quality of her life will seriously deteriorate over the next twelve months’.

The above paragraph appears on the back cover of my book ‘Thoughts of Yesterday’. And is a mild sign of where my Mother was at with Alzheimer’s, in 2010.

As the cruelty of the disease progressed, I was introduced to the darker sides of Alzheimer’s. Aggression, severe and repeated kidney infections and constant confusion and repetition are unwanted behaviors of dementia.  I desperately wished that I did not have to witness the living death in my Mother’s beautiful eyes. I longed for an exit, an absence, so that I could remember my Mammy as she used to be.

Thankfully the qualities that I inherited from my Mother won through. And ensured that nature, nurture and love won the battle I was fighting within.

In 2012 I heard about Dr Mary Newport. She found that Unhydrogenated Coconut Oil helped her husband Steve. He was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

We began by putting the oil into Mammy’s porridge every morning. After just two weeks we noticed improvements in her short term memory.

The remarkable advancements continued and, as they did, I kept a journal.

The introduction of the oil in Mammy’s diet has filled my life with the sweetest of memories. I am more than happy to share with you all, over the coming months.

Coconut oil offers potential benefits for dementia.

Studies have shown that dementia patients who take coconut oil may experience an increase in short-term memory and cognitive function. Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are easily absorbed by the body and can be used as an energy source for the brain.

This allows dementia patients to access their stored memories more quickly, improving their ability to think clearly and recall information better. In addition, MCTs found in coconut oil help reduce inflammation in the hippocampus - an area of the brain associated with learning and memory - which can improve dementia symptoms further.

If you or someone you know is living with dementia, adding coconut oil to their daily diet may be worth considering as a way to manage dementia symptoms. Including a quality, organic coconut oil in your dementia patient's diet may provide numerous benefits when it comes to managing dementia symptoms.

The MCTs found in coconut oil can help with short-term memory recall and improve cognitive function, while reducing inflammation in the hippocampus which is associated with learning and memory.

Coconut oil is also easy to incorporate into meals or snacks, making it an ideal choice for dementia patients who have difficulty swallowing pills or tablets. With regular use, dementia patients may experience improved cognitive abilities and a better quality of life overall. Try adding some coconut oil to your dementia patient's diet today!