Seth’s blog

13 Responses to “Coconut Oil and Alzheimer’s Disease”

1. Andrew Gelman Says:
   April 1st, 2009 at 6:17 pm

   Seth:

   Why are you so quick to believe this and so skeptical of the report (in your previous blog entry) on vinyl flooring?

2. Confidence Says:
   April 1st, 2009 at 7:15 pm

   Thank you very much for this link. But good point by Dr. Gelman .

3. seth Says:
   April 2nd, 2009 at 6:42 am

   In this case the evidence is far better, in three ways. 1. There is substantial outside reason to believe the results. 2. The data come from something like an experiment rather than a survey. 3. The false positive problem isn’t present.

4. Darkhorse Says:
   April 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 am

   My husband, 54, had begun showing troubling signs of MCI about three years ago. An economist and mathematician, his increasing incidences of errors in calculations, and sometimes misunderstanding what others were talking about were definitely not like him at all. I was secretly very worried, and insisted on cognitive testing. Oddly, though, he scored very high in every area, including IQ and cognitive reaction. After showing him your December 2008 post about Steve Newport’s results, we agreed to try a judicious regimen of daily coconut oil, starting in January 2009. Within two weeks I could see improvements, and today we both agree that something is very much changed. I can see that his mental acuity is back normal, and he never forgets an appointment. I am very grateful to you for this, and for the link to this new website, which I shall be watching very carefully. Thank you for your always finely crafted, intelligent and thought provoking blog.

5. seth Says:
   April 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pm

   You’re welcome, Darkhorse, that’s great! MCI = mild cognitive impairment?

6. Worried Says:
   September 16th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

   Sure, sure. I’ve researched the entire Internet for the curative powers of coconut oil for Alzheimer’s (my mother suffers it) and NOTHING. How can the entire world be spinning the story of a “fact” about which there’s NO EVIDENCE? I’m very glad for Dr. Newport and her husband, but PLEASE TREAT SERIOUS ISSUES SERIOUSLY! We’ve come a long way (or haven’t we?) since the old times of snake oil! So many months later, where is at least ONE MORE CASE of an Alzheimer’s patient who has benefitted from coconut? PLEASE!

7. seth Says:
   September 16th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

   I suggest you contact Dr. Newport about this.

8. E. Smith Says:
   October 16th, 2009 at 11:21 am

   Can the coconut oil/MCT oil mixture be put in a cup of coffee, or will the heat destroy its effectiveness?

9. Rick H Says:
   November 29th, 2009 at 11:49 am

   Snake oil helped the chinese who were hewing a railroad bed out of the rocky mountains. Dr. Newport is serious about coconut oil-so I am. There is no big money in coconut oil so don’t expect the drug companies to get excited. The largest, best test starts with a single anecdote. If you think it wont work for you, you are correct–this is the negative placebo effect. Most medicine needs faith for good results. I tried coconut oil but found diarrhea to be a problem. Any suggestions on Diarrhea from all that oil?

10. seth Says:
    November 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    Diarrhea and oil: timing matters. I have found that if I take flaxseed oil just before bedtime, diarrhea is much less of a problem than if I take the same amount in the morning.

11. ladyjanegrey Says:
    January 11th, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Regarding diarrhea and oil: I have heard that coconut oil should be introduced slowly into one’s diet, because it is an anti-fungal, I believe, and likely to cause die-off. Perhaps starting with a small amount and gradually increasing would help. Or, I would imagine that it would be easier on the stomach if taken with something else, such as spread on bread.

12. Ladybugbritches Says:
    February 13th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    I say, Give it a try, What have ya got to lose? Your Mind??
    My Mom has Alzheimers, I just bought a jar of virgin coconut oil and I plan to give it to her (and my dad, caretaker) for Valentine’s day. I hope it helps her.

13. pam Says:
    March 11th, 2010 at 8:49 am

    I started this with my father who is well beyond MCI - a combination of smoking and drinking to excess in earlier years, 17 meds for COPD and congestive heart failure, etc. Although he’s not the Mensa thinker he was in his 50’s, at 89, his is much more alert, happier, and his well-being has been enhanced. If I had known about this earlier, I would have done it years ago. He gets a tablespoon in his cheese grits in the morning, plus another tablespoon in the evening, usually in Tang or in some juice. Yes, it sits on the top, and you have to stir it in, or heat the juice a little. (Yes, and no comments re: cheese grits - at this age, you feed them what they will eat, LOL)

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