Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
The mechanism here is pretty interesting! At its core, Alzheimer’s is an energy crisis in the brain—glucose metabolism breaks down, but ketone metabolism often stays intact.
MCTs provide an alternative energy pathway, basically creating a metabolic workaround.
Lab studies by Kashiwaya and Yin found ketones actively block amyloid-beta from entering neurons and reduce oxidative stress. In animal models, MCT supplementation lowered brain amyloid-β and improved memory performance—going after the actual pathology, not just symptoms.
For best results, dosage matters. Clinical trials usually used 20-30g daily of MCTs, split into multiple doses to avoid stomach issues.
Benefits may start within weeks but usually build over 2-3 months of steady use.
That APOE ε4 connection is crucial—genetic testing could save you time (and maybe some digestive drama) if you’re a carrier, since benefits may be minimal.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
MCI is the perfect time for MCT intervention. Nagga’s work showed MCT supplementation improved cognitive performance specifically in those with early memory changes but not full dementia.
Targeting MCI means catching the brain before irreversible damage sets in. Ota’s 2016 trial and others suggest MCTs might work best during this window of opportunity.
Brain Fog and Mental Fatigue
Struggling with post-illness brain fog, chronic fatigue, or chemo-related brain fuzz? MCTs might help. Research here is thin, but the logic is solid—giving the brain energy when glucose metabolism is impaired.
Epilepsy and Seizure Management
MCT oil has been part of medical ketogenic diets for epilepsy since the 1970s. The new twist? Decanoic acid (C10), a specific MCT, directly blocks AMPA receptors involved in seizures, as Watanabe’s research showed. This could explain why some patients respond to MCTs even without full ketosis.
Age-Related Cognitive Decline
Pan’s 8-month study with aged dogs showed something remarkable—the MCT-supplemented pups learned and remembered better than controls. The benefits were clearest on tough tasks that required sustained mental effort.
Makes me wonder if our senior pets should be getting MCTs too. For humans, this hints that MCTs might especially help with challenging cognitive tasks as we age.