What do you think?
Rate this book
Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?
Acting on new research showing that medium-chain fatty acids, which act like an alternative fuel in the insulin-deficient Alzheimer's brain, can sometimes reverse or at least stabilize the disease, author Dr. Mary T. Newport has demonstrated through her care for her husband that there is hope, relief, and perhaps a cure.
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2011
92 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 3, 2023
The recent news is providing a more optimistic outlook for Alzheimer’s disease treatment options. After a long period of time, we have drugs approved and others awaiting approval. This book is both a personal story of how the author Mary Newport coped and tried various treatment options for her husband Steve, as also her learnings as a result and advice for others.
The first half of the book details Steve’s diagnosis, progression of the disease and attempts at treating it. Steve was an accountant, and Mary trained to be a neonatologist. Significant symptoms became evident in 2000-2001 when Steve started making mistakes in accounting. The most widely known markers for the disease are amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain; abnormal lipid deposits are also being studied. The complication has been that plagues & tangles seem secondary effects and just attempting to address that has not worked. It has been speculated that Alzheimer’s is Type 3 diabetes - Insulin resistance in the brain, where brain cells are unable to absorb the glucose they need. After the disease had progresses significantly for Steve, Mary came across an article on the benefits of ketones in alleviating symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The theory is that ketones can supply alternate energy to brain cells since glucose is not making it there. She mentions she wishes she had known about this earlier as giving Steve coconut oil and MCT oil every day led to significant improvement and Steve himself mentioned that he felt as if the fog had lifted from his brain. In parallel, they continued to check on drug trials Steve could participate in – though sadly it did not work out. Mary also worked to get the word out that ketones help – but she was largely ignored initially by research organizations. After a fall, and later seizures and complications thereof, Steve passed away in 2016. Mary continues to follow Alzheimer’s treatment developments, at the same time advocating ketones as an option, which has worked for many.
There is detailed information in the later sections on – the disease (symptoms, diagnosis etc), diet advice (most significant triggers believed to processed food and sugars), letters outlining benefits others have written to her on using ketones and a few food recipes mostly with coconuts. Her efforts in supporting Steve for many years, without doubt also extending his life as a result, and getting the word out about ketones makes for inspiring reading. I believe this is well worth a try, considering the toll the disease takes. However, especially the first half of the book makes it appear as if ketones should be the primary focus of treatment. I personally liked the multi-faceted approach advocated in “The End of Alzheimer’s” by Dale Bredesen. Of course, based on the author’s personal experience, clearly ketones are worth exploring as an option at any stage of the disease.
The first half of the book details Steve’s diagnosis, progression of the disease and attempts at treating it. Steve was an accountant, and Mary trained to be a neonatologist. Significant symptoms became evident in 2000-2001 when Steve started making mistakes in accounting. The most widely known markers for the disease are amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain; abnormal lipid deposits are also being studied. The complication has been that plagues & tangles seem secondary effects and just attempting to address that has not worked. It has been speculated that Alzheimer’s is Type 3 diabetes - Insulin resistance in the brain, where brain cells are unable to absorb the glucose they need. After the disease had progresses significantly for Steve, Mary came across an article on the benefits of ketones in alleviating symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The theory is that ketones can supply alternate energy to brain cells since glucose is not making it there. She mentions she wishes she had known about this earlier as giving Steve coconut oil and MCT oil every day led to significant improvement and Steve himself mentioned that he felt as if the fog had lifted from his brain. In parallel, they continued to check on drug trials Steve could participate in – though sadly it did not work out. Mary also worked to get the word out that ketones help – but she was largely ignored initially by research organizations. After a fall, and later seizures and complications thereof, Steve passed away in 2016. Mary continues to follow Alzheimer’s treatment developments, at the same time advocating ketones as an option, which has worked for many.
There is detailed information in the later sections on – the disease (symptoms, diagnosis etc), diet advice (most significant triggers believed to processed food and sugars), letters outlining benefits others have written to her on using ketones and a few food recipes mostly with coconuts. Her efforts in supporting Steve for many years, without doubt also extending his life as a result, and getting the word out about ketones makes for inspiring reading. I believe this is well worth a try, considering the toll the disease takes. However, especially the first half of the book makes it appear as if ketones should be the primary focus of treatment. I personally liked the multi-faceted approach advocated in “The End of Alzheimer’s” by Dale Bredesen. Of course, based on the author’s personal experience, clearly ketones are worth exploring as an option at any stage of the disease.
June 14, 2015
This is an important book.
Mary T Newport "Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?”
Mary Newport is an MD (neonatal care practitioner), whose husband Steve was diagnosed with alzheimer’s aged 58 in 2003.
The underlying biochemistry behind her advocacy of Virgin Coconut Oil as the best means of delivering ketones, is clear and well supported scientifically. It is clearer and more credible than the “scientific” explanations behind the Memory Healer Program; though the wholefood diet she advocates is almost exactly the diet which the Memory Healer Program provides. This is mainly wholefoods, with raw salads & veg as a priority, some protein, and as few sugars & carbohydrates and as little processed or refined food as possible.
This is why that diet, with the addition of daily intake of Coconut Oil, is working so well for my Mum.
Basically what happens in Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia & Parkinson’s Disease, is that the glucose (from carbohydrates) which is the normal fuel for the brain cells, (and all the cells in the body), can no longer get across the blood-brain barrier, so the brain cells are deprived and start to die. Hence the MRI Brain scans of advanced Alzheimer’s sufferers show brain shrinkage, and areas of destruction of brain cells, as well as the plaques & tangles associated with the brain being starved of fuel. The reason for the failure of the transport of fuel (glucose) to the brain, is lack of insulin or a resistance to insulin in the mitochondria in the brain cells. The brain requires massive supplies of energy to continue to function properly. The tiny mitochondria in the brain cells normally process this energy.
The body has a natural way of dealing with this problem on a temporary basis, by producing ketones, which seems to be a fuel which can pass through the blood brain barrier without needing the insulin transporter, and therefore fuel the brain cells. Normally we only produce ketones when we are starved for 48 hours or more. As soon as we eat again, the ketones levels drop and we go back to processing carbs to make glucose, with the insulin produced in the pancreas to transport the glucose. But where the latter process is not happening, as in Az sufferers, then ketones which the body can quickly synthesise from Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, come to the rescue, and allow the brain cells to be fuelled, and new cells to grow and replace the dead or damaged ones.
The best available source of ketones is Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil and other Coconut based products, as well as MCT Oils from palm oil or coconut oil, or synthesized forms of these powerful fatty acids. Coconut Oil is a medium chain fatty acid (ie MCT), and it is a saturated fat, but it will not raise LDL cholesterol levels, and is not harmful to the diet. In fact, it has other great benefits in addition to supplying the ketones needed for Alzheimer’s sufferers. It has anti-oxidants, vitamins, fights infections, especially fungal problems, and herpes simplex problems and it boosts the immune system. It is good for the skin and hair; and is an excellent preventative health supplement.
Because the effects of Ketones are short term, they must be replaced daily to ensure the brain cells are being fuelled. Hence the need to take the Coconut oil every day. Mary Newport incorporated moderate doses into Steve’s meals, 3 times a day. He showed remarkable improvements, and only had setbacks when other illnesses or meds taken for them, prevented the taking of, or absorption of the ketones in the coconut oil.
This does mean that the subtitle of her book is rather misleading, because there is no permanent cure for Alzheimer’s. If you stop producing the ketones ie stop taking the coconut oil, then you deteriorate again, as your brain is not being fuelled properly. But we can say that the symptoms can be arrested, and the sufferer can lead a fairly normal life.
Here is a passage from the publisher’s blurb, which is not very clear, but it does get some of the background to the Newport’s story across…..
This is an this updated second edition Dr. Newport, a neonatal practitioner, continues the story of Steve's progress and provides the most recent research on such topics as possible causes of Alzheimer's due to the herpes simplex virus and nitrosamine substances and how infection, inflammation and genetic makeup may affect an individual's response to fatty acid therapy. Among many other updates, she details the latest clinical trials aimed at removing beta amyloid that accumulates in the Alzheimer's brain.
Dr. Newport's story of Steve's reprieve from Alzheimer's provides a real breakthrough for carers eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction and relief from certain physical symptoms.
Carers of those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease are searching desperately for hope, relief and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summaries Dr. Newport's research and Steve's reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids and how Alzheimer's patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats
Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal.
These are my (Stewart McFarlane) further COMMENTS for this review
I have been giving virgin coconut oil capsules & paste/oil daily in food for 5 weeks to Mum. Her short term memory & verbal accuracy have improved, as well her joints, skin, appetite & mood. She is sleeping and eating well, and has had no dizzy spells since starting this regime.She is walking 90 minutes a day and is reading novels again in the evening, her bridge playing has improved.
I recently gave Mum 2 standard memory tests. Pretty much the same test as those used in her diagnosis. She scored 10/10 in one (ie the Clock Face Test) & 98% in the other (Standard Sage Test). So she would be declared clear of AZ’s if these were her first tests. She had been on coconut oil, beetroot juice and the Memory Healer Diet for 5 ½ weeks when she took these tests.
Mum's blood pressure has returned to normal, though this may be due to the organic beetroot juice she is taking daily, along with beetroot in salads & soups.
It is important to use virgin coconut oil, not the refined or processed stuff. The refined oil is no good as a food or supplement.
Don't store the coconut oil in fridge or cool places, as it gets very hard. Best mixed with warm foods just before eating, or warmed by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water, or on a warm hob or heater or even microwave for a second, so it can liquify, then you can even mix it with cold things such as yoghurt or ice cream.
The compulsion to eat chocolate, biscuits, ice cream & other sweet is common in Alzheimer's sufferers: because the brain is telling them it is starved of glucose (fuel) so they eat the sweet stuff to supply it, but it doesn't work because the glucose cannot fuel the brain cells because of the insulin deficit or insulin resistance, so the sweet stuff just gets turned to fat, rots the teeth, as well as supplying some energy to other parts of the body, but not much, often due insulin deficiency.
I have noticed that Mum's craving for those things has diminished, because the fuel to the brain is being supplied by the ketones from the Coconut Oil.
NOTE:
If you are starting yourself or a loved one on coconut oil, go easy to start with, it can cause diarrhoea if you take too much, too early. Build up gradually & you will have no problem. If you get the runs, reduce intake until your stomach adjusts.
Mum & I have had no problem, but we always liked coconut anyway.
Anyway, better to have the runs for short spell, than a permanently malfunctioning brain.
I should add that my general approach to my Mum's illness has been strongly influenced by the person centred care method advocated by the Contented Dementia (SPECAL) as advocated in Oliver James " Contented Dementia: 24-hour Wraparound Care for Lifelong Well-being"Contented Dementia[Kindle Edition]. The Contented Dementia Trust is based in Burford, Oxfordshire. Though they do not advocate any specific diets, as far as I know.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, restores memory & and helps mental functioning. Great for skin and hair; and protects against many infections and fungal rashes. Boosts the immune system & provides many other benefits. Mum doing very well on this.
As an alternative to the Suma brand, these 2 are good brands for spreads or adding to warm food or even with ice cream.
"Groovy Food" extra virgin organic coconut oil. £5.99 jar, or Waitrose own brand cold pressed virgin coconut oil (in a plastic tub)...£5.00. Amounts are about the same as Suma’s ie 320 grammes.
___________________________________________________
BEETROOT JUICE
“Beet It” Organic Beetroot Juice by James White Co. is on offer at Waitrose. 1 litre carton 2.20, 75cl Bootle..£2.39 (usually 2.99). This is the best brand.
Beetroot , especially the juice, is an essential part of Mum's Memory Diet, & known to regulate blood pressure,& has powerful antioxidants & vitamins. It is really working for Mum. One glass with a Memory healer meal, & sometimes another glass later in the day.
Mary T Newport "Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?”
Mary Newport is an MD (neonatal care practitioner), whose husband Steve was diagnosed with alzheimer’s aged 58 in 2003.
The underlying biochemistry behind her advocacy of Virgin Coconut Oil as the best means of delivering ketones, is clear and well supported scientifically. It is clearer and more credible than the “scientific” explanations behind the Memory Healer Program; though the wholefood diet she advocates is almost exactly the diet which the Memory Healer Program provides. This is mainly wholefoods, with raw salads & veg as a priority, some protein, and as few sugars & carbohydrates and as little processed or refined food as possible.
This is why that diet, with the addition of daily intake of Coconut Oil, is working so well for my Mum.
Basically what happens in Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia & Parkinson’s Disease, is that the glucose (from carbohydrates) which is the normal fuel for the brain cells, (and all the cells in the body), can no longer get across the blood-brain barrier, so the brain cells are deprived and start to die. Hence the MRI Brain scans of advanced Alzheimer’s sufferers show brain shrinkage, and areas of destruction of brain cells, as well as the plaques & tangles associated with the brain being starved of fuel. The reason for the failure of the transport of fuel (glucose) to the brain, is lack of insulin or a resistance to insulin in the mitochondria in the brain cells. The brain requires massive supplies of energy to continue to function properly. The tiny mitochondria in the brain cells normally process this energy.
The body has a natural way of dealing with this problem on a temporary basis, by producing ketones, which seems to be a fuel which can pass through the blood brain barrier without needing the insulin transporter, and therefore fuel the brain cells. Normally we only produce ketones when we are starved for 48 hours or more. As soon as we eat again, the ketones levels drop and we go back to processing carbs to make glucose, with the insulin produced in the pancreas to transport the glucose. But where the latter process is not happening, as in Az sufferers, then ketones which the body can quickly synthesise from Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, come to the rescue, and allow the brain cells to be fuelled, and new cells to grow and replace the dead or damaged ones.
The best available source of ketones is Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil and other Coconut based products, as well as MCT Oils from palm oil or coconut oil, or synthesized forms of these powerful fatty acids. Coconut Oil is a medium chain fatty acid (ie MCT), and it is a saturated fat, but it will not raise LDL cholesterol levels, and is not harmful to the diet. In fact, it has other great benefits in addition to supplying the ketones needed for Alzheimer’s sufferers. It has anti-oxidants, vitamins, fights infections, especially fungal problems, and herpes simplex problems and it boosts the immune system. It is good for the skin and hair; and is an excellent preventative health supplement.
Because the effects of Ketones are short term, they must be replaced daily to ensure the brain cells are being fuelled. Hence the need to take the Coconut oil every day. Mary Newport incorporated moderate doses into Steve’s meals, 3 times a day. He showed remarkable improvements, and only had setbacks when other illnesses or meds taken for them, prevented the taking of, or absorption of the ketones in the coconut oil.
This does mean that the subtitle of her book is rather misleading, because there is no permanent cure for Alzheimer’s. If you stop producing the ketones ie stop taking the coconut oil, then you deteriorate again, as your brain is not being fuelled properly. But we can say that the symptoms can be arrested, and the sufferer can lead a fairly normal life.
Here is a passage from the publisher’s blurb, which is not very clear, but it does get some of the background to the Newport’s story across…..
This is an this updated second edition Dr. Newport, a neonatal practitioner, continues the story of Steve's progress and provides the most recent research on such topics as possible causes of Alzheimer's due to the herpes simplex virus and nitrosamine substances and how infection, inflammation and genetic makeup may affect an individual's response to fatty acid therapy. Among many other updates, she details the latest clinical trials aimed at removing beta amyloid that accumulates in the Alzheimer's brain.
Dr. Newport's story of Steve's reprieve from Alzheimer's provides a real breakthrough for carers eager to learn about readily available fatty acids in foods that may reverse the ravages of this dreaded disease. Changes in loved ones may take many forms, including improved memory, return of personality, resumption of activities and social interaction and relief from certain physical symptoms.
Carers of those who suffer from Alzheimer's disease are searching desperately for hope, relief and a cure. They will find all that in this book that summaries Dr. Newport's research and Steve's reprieve, the importance of medium-chain fatty acids and how Alzheimer's patients can make the transition to a healthy diet rich in these vital fats
Dr. Newport has become an ardent advocate for ketone ester research, with FDA approval her final goal.
These are my (Stewart McFarlane) further COMMENTS for this review
I have been giving virgin coconut oil capsules & paste/oil daily in food for 5 weeks to Mum. Her short term memory & verbal accuracy have improved, as well her joints, skin, appetite & mood. She is sleeping and eating well, and has had no dizzy spells since starting this regime.She is walking 90 minutes a day and is reading novels again in the evening, her bridge playing has improved.
I recently gave Mum 2 standard memory tests. Pretty much the same test as those used in her diagnosis. She scored 10/10 in one (ie the Clock Face Test) & 98% in the other (Standard Sage Test). So she would be declared clear of AZ’s if these were her first tests. She had been on coconut oil, beetroot juice and the Memory Healer Diet for 5 ½ weeks when she took these tests.
Mum's blood pressure has returned to normal, though this may be due to the organic beetroot juice she is taking daily, along with beetroot in salads & soups.
It is important to use virgin coconut oil, not the refined or processed stuff. The refined oil is no good as a food or supplement.
Don't store the coconut oil in fridge or cool places, as it gets very hard. Best mixed with warm foods just before eating, or warmed by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water, or on a warm hob or heater or even microwave for a second, so it can liquify, then you can even mix it with cold things such as yoghurt or ice cream.
The compulsion to eat chocolate, biscuits, ice cream & other sweet is common in Alzheimer's sufferers: because the brain is telling them it is starved of glucose (fuel) so they eat the sweet stuff to supply it, but it doesn't work because the glucose cannot fuel the brain cells because of the insulin deficit or insulin resistance, so the sweet stuff just gets turned to fat, rots the teeth, as well as supplying some energy to other parts of the body, but not much, often due insulin deficiency.
I have noticed that Mum's craving for those things has diminished, because the fuel to the brain is being supplied by the ketones from the Coconut Oil.
NOTE:
If you are starting yourself or a loved one on coconut oil, go easy to start with, it can cause diarrhoea if you take too much, too early. Build up gradually & you will have no problem. If you get the runs, reduce intake until your stomach adjusts.
Mum & I have had no problem, but we always liked coconut anyway.
Anyway, better to have the runs for short spell, than a permanently malfunctioning brain.
I should add that my general approach to my Mum's illness has been strongly influenced by the person centred care method advocated by the Contented Dementia (SPECAL) as advocated in Oliver James " Contented Dementia: 24-hour Wraparound Care for Lifelong Well-being"Contented Dementia[Kindle Edition]. The Contented Dementia Trust is based in Burford, Oxfordshire. Though they do not advocate any specific diets, as far as I know.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL, restores memory & and helps mental functioning. Great for skin and hair; and protects against many infections and fungal rashes. Boosts the immune system & provides many other benefits. Mum doing very well on this.
As an alternative to the Suma brand, these 2 are good brands for spreads or adding to warm food or even with ice cream.
"Groovy Food" extra virgin organic coconut oil. £5.99 jar, or Waitrose own brand cold pressed virgin coconut oil (in a plastic tub)...£5.00. Amounts are about the same as Suma’s ie 320 grammes.
___________________________________________________
BEETROOT JUICE
“Beet It” Organic Beetroot Juice by James White Co. is on offer at Waitrose. 1 litre carton 2.20, 75cl Bootle..£2.39 (usually 2.99). This is the best brand.
Beetroot , especially the juice, is an essential part of Mum's Memory Diet, & known to regulate blood pressure,& has powerful antioxidants & vitamins. It is really working for Mum. One glass with a Memory healer meal, & sometimes another glass later in the day.
April 18, 2012
I watched a youtube clip about Dr. Newport which led to me this book and further investigation. I found it a fascinating and personal account of Dr. Newport's quest to help, at the very least, slow the progression of her husband's Alzheimer's, initially to hopefully qualify him for drug trials and buy him time. Something patients with advanced Alzheimer's don't have much of. Her research led to her to try the unconventional treatment, or voodoo medicine as my brother would call it, of coconut oil. The very simplified version is that pure, not hydrogenated, coconut oil contains ketones which feed the brain when it is unable to access sufficient glucose and within a fairly short period of time Dr. Newport saw significant improvements in her husbands symptoms and quality of life. Further research followed along with frustrated attempts to spread the word through traditional medical and research forums. She has now committed herself to seeking funding for further research and development but also to getting the word of this hopeful discovery out to as many people as possible. I am no scientist and we used to tease my grandmother mercilessly about her regimen of daily supplements but more and more I begin to think she was a woman ahead of her time but I find her research and, at least for now, anecdotal evidence fairly compelling. Plus I find Dr. Newport's dedication and commitment to caring for her husband and sharing her information to be very inspiring, she's a super hero.
Oh, PS, the cholesterol issue - yes, coconut oil is high in cholesterol but it's the good kind.
Oh, PS, the cholesterol issue - yes, coconut oil is high in cholesterol but it's the good kind.
January 4, 2013
Despite the hokey title, this book is well-researched and incredibly interesting for anyone with a family history of Alzheimer's and/or other brain disease, such as ALS, Parkinson's or MS. The author looks at the miracle energy source of ketones, which are made by our bodies when we eat coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides), are starving, or eat a ketogenic diet. Ketones are actually a more efficient form of energy for our cells than glucose and do not require insulin to get into cells. This distinction is extremely important because in many brain diseases brain neurons become insulin resistant, resulting in the cell's inability to absorb glucose and subsequent death. Coconut oil or stronger ketone esters give the brain a new energy source that it can use, and many patients have reported improvements from taking coconut oil, including the author's husband. Another interesting fact about ketones is that while cancer cells use glucose to grow and spread, cancer cells cannot use ketones, unlike all the healthy cells in the human body. A person surviving on mainly ketones for energy can starve their cancer to death. Although the NIH scrapped the ketone research group in the early 2000's, several scientists continue this important work, and one of whom has developed a ketone ester that is 1000% stronger than coconut oil. Exciting stuff for the future.....
May 6, 2012
After a member of my caregiver support group shared her encouraging and successful experience of using coconut oil with her 95 year old Alzheimer diseased mother, I was anxious to find out more. (She showed the clock drawing done prior to using coconut oil and 2 months later. An amazing difference.) I googled "Mary Newport" and watched the hour long video and also read everything I could find dating back to 2008. So when I finally got the book, I already had some information. The book shared Dr. Newport's discovery of what she called Diabetes 3 of the brain. She talked about the need for the diseased brain to produce energy from keytones since it can't pull it from glucose. Coconut oil and MCT oils are the cheapest and most effective means (at this time) to help the brain pull keytones.
I tried the coconut oil on my husband who has Frontal temporal dementia with primary progressive aphasia. We did not see any improvements. His clock drawing and ability to speak did not change. So we discontinued the coconut oil after 2 months. But after reading the book, we will use it again just to try to keep things from progressing too rapidly.
I am not rating this book 5 stars for these reasons:
1. Dr. Newport talks about the early improvement of her husband's MMSE score going from 14 to 18 after the first dose of coconut oil. But she did coach him on the way to taking the test. She uses these test results as her first proof of how well the MCT work.
2. As she admits, most of her data and those of people who emailed and contacted her are subjective. It is observations of mood and energy. We all know that dementia patients can experience better functioning days and then revert.
3. I object to the title. Dr. Newport admits in the book that MCT therapy alone is not a cure. The title gives false hope.
I tried the coconut oil on my husband who has Frontal temporal dementia with primary progressive aphasia. We did not see any improvements. His clock drawing and ability to speak did not change. So we discontinued the coconut oil after 2 months. But after reading the book, we will use it again just to try to keep things from progressing too rapidly.
I am not rating this book 5 stars for these reasons:
1. Dr. Newport talks about the early improvement of her husband's MMSE score going from 14 to 18 after the first dose of coconut oil. But she did coach him on the way to taking the test. She uses these test results as her first proof of how well the MCT work.
2. As she admits, most of her data and those of people who emailed and contacted her are subjective. It is observations of mood and energy. We all know that dementia patients can experience better functioning days and then revert.
3. I object to the title. Dr. Newport admits in the book that MCT therapy alone is not a cure. The title gives false hope.
April 2, 2012
Mary Newport is a medical doctor. Her husband developed early onset Alzheimer's, and she found what may be a cure. Based on NIH research, she found that ketones can supply brain cells with energy when they cannot use glucose. This can ameliorate the symptoms of Alzheimer's. She also found an inexpensive way to get ketones into the brain until the high-powered ketone ester that may cure Alzheimer's becomes readily available.
If you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or other neurological degenerative disease, read this book.
If you or a loved one suffers from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or other neurological degenerative disease, read this book.
October 23, 2013
VERY INTERESTING!!!! And written by a woman doctor (Mary Newport) who's dealing with her husband who has early onset Alzheimer's.
One of the worst possible neurological diseases people could ever be diagnosed with is Alzheimer's. From the memory loss to weight loss to depression, it's a sad state for the people afflicted with it as well as the family members who are left to deal with a loved one who may or may not recognize them on a day-to-day basis. With 5.3 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease today with a new case being identified every 70 seconds, finding a solution for this problem is a serious topic worthy of discussion. The author of this book stumbled upon an unexpected dietary "cure" for her husband's Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Newport correctly identifies the glucose connection to Alzheimer's disease which is now becoming well-known in medical circles as Type 3 diabetes, how ketone bodies are the preferred fuel for brain function, and why medium chain triglycerides (MTCs) found in coconut oil are a miracle for her husband's condition. This is one of the most stunning personal testimonies of how a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet can dramatically improve health. You can't help but be a believer after reading what Dr. Newport has to share about her husband Steve is overcoming his tremors, regain cognitive function, and DEFEATING his Alzheimer's.
What goes in our mouths is very important to how our body and brain work. It's time we all start eating real food and the oils that make us work better as well!
One of the worst possible neurological diseases people could ever be diagnosed with is Alzheimer's. From the memory loss to weight loss to depression, it's a sad state for the people afflicted with it as well as the family members who are left to deal with a loved one who may or may not recognize them on a day-to-day basis. With 5.3 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease today with a new case being identified every 70 seconds, finding a solution for this problem is a serious topic worthy of discussion. The author of this book stumbled upon an unexpected dietary "cure" for her husband's Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Newport correctly identifies the glucose connection to Alzheimer's disease which is now becoming well-known in medical circles as Type 3 diabetes, how ketone bodies are the preferred fuel for brain function, and why medium chain triglycerides (MTCs) found in coconut oil are a miracle for her husband's condition. This is one of the most stunning personal testimonies of how a high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet can dramatically improve health. You can't help but be a believer after reading what Dr. Newport has to share about her husband Steve is overcoming his tremors, regain cognitive function, and DEFEATING his Alzheimer's.
What goes in our mouths is very important to how our body and brain work. It's time we all start eating real food and the oils that make us work better as well!
September 21, 2013
A MUST read!
Start using coconut oil NOW.
Well written. Amazing story. Just skip over the few pages of Organic Chemistry
if it doesn't appeal to you. There's significant info here for everyone.
My 84 yr old mother-in-law suffers from Alzheimers...
-short term memory loss, asking the same question again and again from one minute to the next
-unable to follow the dialogue of a tv show
-long, long since unable to find her way through familiar streets in a car
-still able to prepare her scrambled egg breakfast and rice with meat lunch...
though she often prepares a second breakfast or lunch an hour after eating the first.
Getting her to ingest just 2-3 Tablespoons of coconut oil each day in a smoothy and as a cooking
substitute has emphatically improved her cognition. Tv shows make enough sense to her that
she will now make comments about the ongoing story. The incessant questioning has stopped.
Her demeanor is brighter and cheerier. She won't remember the tv show tomorrow. She still won't
ever drive again...but her life and her daughters experience with her is dramatically improved.
We are trying to figure out how to double her intake. She doesn't think of it on her own.
Do not fail to read this book
Start using coconut oil NOW.
Well written. Amazing story. Just skip over the few pages of Organic Chemistry
if it doesn't appeal to you. There's significant info here for everyone.
My 84 yr old mother-in-law suffers from Alzheimers...
-short term memory loss, asking the same question again and again from one minute to the next
-unable to follow the dialogue of a tv show
-long, long since unable to find her way through familiar streets in a car
-still able to prepare her scrambled egg breakfast and rice with meat lunch...
though she often prepares a second breakfast or lunch an hour after eating the first.
Getting her to ingest just 2-3 Tablespoons of coconut oil each day in a smoothy and as a cooking
substitute has emphatically improved her cognition. Tv shows make enough sense to her that
she will now make comments about the ongoing story. The incessant questioning has stopped.
Her demeanor is brighter and cheerier. She won't remember the tv show tomorrow. She still won't
ever drive again...but her life and her daughters experience with her is dramatically improved.
We are trying to figure out how to double her intake. She doesn't think of it on her own.
Do not fail to read this book
April 16, 2014
A personal view of using coconut oil from a neurologist. The changes it made in her husband's life are amazing. I suggest doing your own research into the benefits of coconut oil but I'm a convert. I also think we all need to investigate statins. The government may be doing us more harm than good by having a majority of the population on these drugs. Excellent book!
September 1, 2019
This book should get six stars. I put coconut oil in my coffee about every other morning. Both my parents had this but a friend told me that it skips a generation. That was very kind of her!
November 13, 2023
From the beginning I sense a strong sense of denial about neurodegenerative disease. They kill you over time, that is the sad reality of them, it is not some sense of hopelessness being forced onto the patient and their family for no reason. The CNS is dying. Ketones are chemicals produced by the liver that help the body to break down fat. Diabetics often development high levels of keytones in the blood do to a lack of insulin production. More ketones develop if your body is not getting a sufficient amount of glucose. I am not quite sure how this relates to dementia. Drugs commonly prescribed to dementia patients are not “dangerous. This type of narrative is damaging to medical progress in seeking cures and treatments for alzheimers.
I don’t think that calling cell death a “mysterious process” is the right choice of wording considering you explain what is happening in the rest of the sentence. The cause is unknown because there is no cause, it is genetically encoded and spontaneously developing. There is some evidence indicating it is possible to slow development of the disease, but there is not an action that can be taken to prevent it all together seeing as there is no one thing that causes it. Alzheimers is not “type 3 diabetes.” Alzheimers is a neurodegenerative disease, diabetes is a chronic health condition of the pancreas.
Memory retention in childhood and adolescence has nothing to do with alzheimers later in life, they may both occur, but there is not enough evidence to indicate they are related. The way in which this woman speaks about her husband is almost as if she doesn’t see him as a human being and rather an object getting in her way. The hoarding is very common, dementia patients struggle with object permanence and to them hoarding gives them a sense of control over their possessions. You should not call your husband names that make fun of the things he is losing the ability to do. The constant “now became my job” is infuriating, it isn’t that your husband didn’t want to help, he couldn’t. It is plenty easy to speak to dementia patients as adults, they are not children, they are adults. You can speak to them the way you speak to your peers, it just has to be less words at a time. There is no justification for speaking to them as a child. The victim complex and constantly blaming the husband is incredibly infuriating, as if she has forgotten he is a real person with real feelings and emotions.
There are a lot of conclusions being jumped to here. Feeding your husband coconut oil for one day did not help to improve his scores on the testing. The testing had some time to engrain into his longer term memory and you coached him right before the test, therefore he remembered more aspects of it. This seems like an intense placebo. Simply being able to draw clocks is not a sign of improvement, again, the clock has become engrained into his memory and due to repetition an aspect of routine. Perhaps no one responded because claiming consuming coconut oil can reverse dementia is a rather large conclusion to jump to. One patient is not indicative of a cure or solution, thats why clinical trials have thousands of participants. Again, the reason the test scores improve is because of the repetition and the task becoming engrained in his long term memory. There is still so much lack of evidence provided by the author to make this plausible and the continued talk of her husband feels like she’s forgotten he is a real person.
Going to conventions and forums you were not invited to speak at and distributing information that is scientifically unfounded is out of line. Perhaps there was continued rejection of the distribution of this information was because it was medically unfounded and seemingly insensitive. If I had just shared a story about how I was losing my grandfather to dementia and a woman came up to me and said to feed him coconut oil, I wouldn’t be happy, probably not very tolerant either. You cannot then claim that this will work for another neurodegenerative disease as well. There is barely any evidence to support it working for alzheimers, it will not automatically work for Parkinsons. Thats spreading misinformation.
“Steve had an outbreak of fever blisters on his lip that took more than a month to disappear, in spite of all the coconut oil he was consuming.” …what? now coconut oil also helps with other illnesses? The fever blisters were a result of another illness that he had, and was meant to take a steroid for. The incorrect consumption of prescribed medication does damage that coconut oil will not fix.
The conclusion after a year taking coconut oil fails to mention the clinical trials he took part in as well.
The symptoms he experienced on Prednisone are normal side effects of steroid consumption. If you’re prescribed a steroid it’s because you need it, you should not just stop taking it because you feel its making the dementia worse, it isnt, its a separate group of side effects. Prednisone did not exacerbate his dementia. His dementia is progressing because he has dementia, not because of other drugs consumed in the short term. This data is unquantifiable. All the testimonies come from different illnesses and dosages and age groups, along with a number of other differing factors. There is no type of control, and a treatment for an illness can’t be claimed because it worked for someones dog with the same illness. I would also like to add that most dementia patients need some time to reorient in the morning, and there is a higher chance of a correlation between getting adjusted to the day and the time after taking coconut oil with breakfast, it’s hard to say if the coconut oil actually contributes.
Calling dementia type 3 diabetes detracts from how detrimental of a disease dementia is and makes it seem as though it is something you can simply manage and live with.
The accounts of ups ans downs are heavily biased. You want the coconut oil to work, and nothing else to work, therefore you over percieve events based on whether he had coconut oil that day or not and make the day to day seem more drastic than it is.
Some of the information about genetics and inheritability is inaccurate. The author fails to support most of her claims and evidence with sufficient citation and sourcing, you cannot just claim stuff without supporting it or indicating where you got the idea. Continued making of large sweeping claims such as “If our brains did not have the ability to use ketones as fuel, it is unlikely that we would even exist as a species today…” without properly explaining how you proved these ideas or where you got them makes the information unreliable. This statement is also likely untrue based off the diet followed by early humans. The confirmation bias in this information is highly prevalent. The author only seeks out sources providing the desired answers. Many of these sources are outdated (to the time of this book’s publication). To be more reliable the author should seek out perspectives that disagree with her theory and then use the data supporting her theory to prove why hers is better and more right. The Bible is not a reliable scientific source, and any practices used in the bible cannot be used to justify medicine or scientific treatments without further research. Eliminating carbohydrates from your diet is not healthy for any significant length of time. Your body needs carbohydrates to function, carbohydrates are energy for your brain and body. In the long term the body cannot function without carbohydrates. Along with this carbohydrates are not bad for you, there are simple carbs and complex carbs. Complex carbs are harder for the body to breakdown, but they are not inherently unhealthy.
Claiming the potential reversal of a neurodegenerative disease is too large and unreasonable of a claim. You cannot just claim patient application to untested groups, it doesn’t work that way. If there was a treatment as simple as this it surely would’ve been tested and discovered prior to all sorts of medications that have negative side effects as well. The varying forms of dementia is a little more forgiving considering a small number of patient testimonies, but then jumping to this large list of other illnesses and diseases is not plausible.
How were you able to determine the length of time ketones were available in Steves circulation? You say it varies from person to person but how can each person determine their appropriate length of time?
Too much consumption of fats does increase the chance of developing heart disease or stroke because the fats clog your arteries and make it more difficult for your heart to function and pump blood. This is true. Then trying to claim that dementia has been on the rise since we’ve been encouraged to lower fat consumption pushes a false narrative. The average life expectancy has increased over the past few decades, the population has increased, and medical care has improved. All of these lead to higher rates of dementia, more people living to the age dementia more commonly occurs, more people to develop dementia, and more diagnostic access. The one study mentioned to show a correlation between fat consumption and dementia development only takes into account a group of men from one country. Genetically speaking cultures have different predispositions to disease, and this cannot be conclusive of all people. There is more, larger sampled evidence to indicate there is no correlation. Surely physicians have a good reason for telling their patients to avoid coconut oil, otherwise they wouldn’t bother. You yourself said there was not sufficient evidence to indicate a conclusive connection between cholesterol and dementia progression. That being said, choosing to take your husband off of a medication for high cholesterol is a poor choice, high cholesterol levels cause significant health issues and that is why doctors prescribe medications to reduce those levels. Doctors take into account all the risks and benefits of medications and if they felt this medication was harming Steve, they would’ve taken him off. Does Steve even get any say in this choice? When pointing out the rates of coconut oil and heart disease and dementia in different regions of the world, you fail to mention the impact of all the other genetic and environmental factors that play a more significant role than coconut oil. Yes, we should eat a healthy diet, because it will benefit overall health, but again, it does not mean that simply cutting processed fods or only eating ‘clean’ foods will prevent or treat alzheimers. Continuing to make large sweeping statements that coconut oil can help to treat a whole list of neurodegenerative diseases is not accurate. You cannot claim a treatment until it is tested directly for what you want to treat. Because of the gastrointestinal issues that coconut oil can cause, I don’t think it is ethical to give it to a dementia patient unless they are still able to clearly understand what they are doing. When a food is turned into an oil, it is no longer the same composition as it was as a solid (fruit in this case). So again, you havent tested this with actual coconut and therefore have no idea if it works. The digestive system changesand develops as we age. The nutrients our body needs change as we age. So really it is not a mind boggling inconsistency in the use of coconut oil, its a part of our bodies development. Perhaps if the suggested consumption of coconut oil capsules is only 4 grams, 14 grams more than once per day may be too much. If a loved one is uncooperative, you should not force feed them, they are still adults with feelings and deserve autonomy. Now we’ve jumped to claiming that autism causes seizures, it does not, that is likely from epilepsy coocurring with autism.
Having a history of memory problems does not indicate the development of alzheimers, nor is there any connection between autism and alzheimers. It simply does not work like that.
While I don’t doubt that this method has helped your husband in some ways, and you have recieved some patient testimonies that this has in theory worked, there is still so little medical evidence to indicate that this is truly beneficial. Along with this, making large sweeping claims without sufficient evidence does not better help get your point accross and instead weakens it. It is better to stick to exactly what you studied, researched, and assumed. Looking at the sources, a large number of these are outdated to when the book was written, generally the most reliable science research should be newer, science is everevolving. It seems as though you really only sought out information that confirmed what yo were looking for, good science actively seeks out statements that will not necessarily confirm what you are already assuming.
I don’t think that calling cell death a “mysterious process” is the right choice of wording considering you explain what is happening in the rest of the sentence. The cause is unknown because there is no cause, it is genetically encoded and spontaneously developing. There is some evidence indicating it is possible to slow development of the disease, but there is not an action that can be taken to prevent it all together seeing as there is no one thing that causes it. Alzheimers is not “type 3 diabetes.” Alzheimers is a neurodegenerative disease, diabetes is a chronic health condition of the pancreas.
Memory retention in childhood and adolescence has nothing to do with alzheimers later in life, they may both occur, but there is not enough evidence to indicate they are related. The way in which this woman speaks about her husband is almost as if she doesn’t see him as a human being and rather an object getting in her way. The hoarding is very common, dementia patients struggle with object permanence and to them hoarding gives them a sense of control over their possessions. You should not call your husband names that make fun of the things he is losing the ability to do. The constant “now became my job” is infuriating, it isn’t that your husband didn’t want to help, he couldn’t. It is plenty easy to speak to dementia patients as adults, they are not children, they are adults. You can speak to them the way you speak to your peers, it just has to be less words at a time. There is no justification for speaking to them as a child. The victim complex and constantly blaming the husband is incredibly infuriating, as if she has forgotten he is a real person with real feelings and emotions.
There are a lot of conclusions being jumped to here. Feeding your husband coconut oil for one day did not help to improve his scores on the testing. The testing had some time to engrain into his longer term memory and you coached him right before the test, therefore he remembered more aspects of it. This seems like an intense placebo. Simply being able to draw clocks is not a sign of improvement, again, the clock has become engrained into his memory and due to repetition an aspect of routine. Perhaps no one responded because claiming consuming coconut oil can reverse dementia is a rather large conclusion to jump to. One patient is not indicative of a cure or solution, thats why clinical trials have thousands of participants. Again, the reason the test scores improve is because of the repetition and the task becoming engrained in his long term memory. There is still so much lack of evidence provided by the author to make this plausible and the continued talk of her husband feels like she’s forgotten he is a real person.
Going to conventions and forums you were not invited to speak at and distributing information that is scientifically unfounded is out of line. Perhaps there was continued rejection of the distribution of this information was because it was medically unfounded and seemingly insensitive. If I had just shared a story about how I was losing my grandfather to dementia and a woman came up to me and said to feed him coconut oil, I wouldn’t be happy, probably not very tolerant either. You cannot then claim that this will work for another neurodegenerative disease as well. There is barely any evidence to support it working for alzheimers, it will not automatically work for Parkinsons. Thats spreading misinformation.
“Steve had an outbreak of fever blisters on his lip that took more than a month to disappear, in spite of all the coconut oil he was consuming.” …what? now coconut oil also helps with other illnesses? The fever blisters were a result of another illness that he had, and was meant to take a steroid for. The incorrect consumption of prescribed medication does damage that coconut oil will not fix.
The conclusion after a year taking coconut oil fails to mention the clinical trials he took part in as well.
The symptoms he experienced on Prednisone are normal side effects of steroid consumption. If you’re prescribed a steroid it’s because you need it, you should not just stop taking it because you feel its making the dementia worse, it isnt, its a separate group of side effects. Prednisone did not exacerbate his dementia. His dementia is progressing because he has dementia, not because of other drugs consumed in the short term. This data is unquantifiable. All the testimonies come from different illnesses and dosages and age groups, along with a number of other differing factors. There is no type of control, and a treatment for an illness can’t be claimed because it worked for someones dog with the same illness. I would also like to add that most dementia patients need some time to reorient in the morning, and there is a higher chance of a correlation between getting adjusted to the day and the time after taking coconut oil with breakfast, it’s hard to say if the coconut oil actually contributes.
Calling dementia type 3 diabetes detracts from how detrimental of a disease dementia is and makes it seem as though it is something you can simply manage and live with.
The accounts of ups ans downs are heavily biased. You want the coconut oil to work, and nothing else to work, therefore you over percieve events based on whether he had coconut oil that day or not and make the day to day seem more drastic than it is.
Some of the information about genetics and inheritability is inaccurate. The author fails to support most of her claims and evidence with sufficient citation and sourcing, you cannot just claim stuff without supporting it or indicating where you got the idea. Continued making of large sweeping claims such as “If our brains did not have the ability to use ketones as fuel, it is unlikely that we would even exist as a species today…” without properly explaining how you proved these ideas or where you got them makes the information unreliable. This statement is also likely untrue based off the diet followed by early humans. The confirmation bias in this information is highly prevalent. The author only seeks out sources providing the desired answers. Many of these sources are outdated (to the time of this book’s publication). To be more reliable the author should seek out perspectives that disagree with her theory and then use the data supporting her theory to prove why hers is better and more right. The Bible is not a reliable scientific source, and any practices used in the bible cannot be used to justify medicine or scientific treatments without further research. Eliminating carbohydrates from your diet is not healthy for any significant length of time. Your body needs carbohydrates to function, carbohydrates are energy for your brain and body. In the long term the body cannot function without carbohydrates. Along with this carbohydrates are not bad for you, there are simple carbs and complex carbs. Complex carbs are harder for the body to breakdown, but they are not inherently unhealthy.
Claiming the potential reversal of a neurodegenerative disease is too large and unreasonable of a claim. You cannot just claim patient application to untested groups, it doesn’t work that way. If there was a treatment as simple as this it surely would’ve been tested and discovered prior to all sorts of medications that have negative side effects as well. The varying forms of dementia is a little more forgiving considering a small number of patient testimonies, but then jumping to this large list of other illnesses and diseases is not plausible.
How were you able to determine the length of time ketones were available in Steves circulation? You say it varies from person to person but how can each person determine their appropriate length of time?
Too much consumption of fats does increase the chance of developing heart disease or stroke because the fats clog your arteries and make it more difficult for your heart to function and pump blood. This is true. Then trying to claim that dementia has been on the rise since we’ve been encouraged to lower fat consumption pushes a false narrative. The average life expectancy has increased over the past few decades, the population has increased, and medical care has improved. All of these lead to higher rates of dementia, more people living to the age dementia more commonly occurs, more people to develop dementia, and more diagnostic access. The one study mentioned to show a correlation between fat consumption and dementia development only takes into account a group of men from one country. Genetically speaking cultures have different predispositions to disease, and this cannot be conclusive of all people. There is more, larger sampled evidence to indicate there is no correlation. Surely physicians have a good reason for telling their patients to avoid coconut oil, otherwise they wouldn’t bother. You yourself said there was not sufficient evidence to indicate a conclusive connection between cholesterol and dementia progression. That being said, choosing to take your husband off of a medication for high cholesterol is a poor choice, high cholesterol levels cause significant health issues and that is why doctors prescribe medications to reduce those levels. Doctors take into account all the risks and benefits of medications and if they felt this medication was harming Steve, they would’ve taken him off. Does Steve even get any say in this choice? When pointing out the rates of coconut oil and heart disease and dementia in different regions of the world, you fail to mention the impact of all the other genetic and environmental factors that play a more significant role than coconut oil. Yes, we should eat a healthy diet, because it will benefit overall health, but again, it does not mean that simply cutting processed fods or only eating ‘clean’ foods will prevent or treat alzheimers. Continuing to make large sweeping statements that coconut oil can help to treat a whole list of neurodegenerative diseases is not accurate. You cannot claim a treatment until it is tested directly for what you want to treat. Because of the gastrointestinal issues that coconut oil can cause, I don’t think it is ethical to give it to a dementia patient unless they are still able to clearly understand what they are doing. When a food is turned into an oil, it is no longer the same composition as it was as a solid (fruit in this case). So again, you havent tested this with actual coconut and therefore have no idea if it works. The digestive system changesand develops as we age. The nutrients our body needs change as we age. So really it is not a mind boggling inconsistency in the use of coconut oil, its a part of our bodies development. Perhaps if the suggested consumption of coconut oil capsules is only 4 grams, 14 grams more than once per day may be too much. If a loved one is uncooperative, you should not force feed them, they are still adults with feelings and deserve autonomy. Now we’ve jumped to claiming that autism causes seizures, it does not, that is likely from epilepsy coocurring with autism.
Having a history of memory problems does not indicate the development of alzheimers, nor is there any connection between autism and alzheimers. It simply does not work like that.
While I don’t doubt that this method has helped your husband in some ways, and you have recieved some patient testimonies that this has in theory worked, there is still so little medical evidence to indicate that this is truly beneficial. Along with this, making large sweeping claims without sufficient evidence does not better help get your point accross and instead weakens it. It is better to stick to exactly what you studied, researched, and assumed. Looking at the sources, a large number of these are outdated to when the book was written, generally the most reliable science research should be newer, science is everevolving. It seems as though you really only sought out information that confirmed what yo were looking for, good science actively seeks out statements that will not necessarily confirm what you are already assuming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2013
Dr. Newport makes a good case for the benefits of coconut oil in the treatment of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Although much of her data is anecdotal and related to the progress seen in her husband, she has been thorough in extending beyond his case, gathering other data, compiling it, and urging that more research be done. I thought the book was a little long, but to be fair, I think she is appealing to two different audiences: the layperson (me) and the medical/research professional, and therefore needed to include information that would be accessible and interesting to both. She does give warning before the really technical chapters and recommends that those who aren't interested in that level of information can skip them entirely. Dr. Newport even includes recipes at the end of the book for those who want to try to incorporate coconut oil in their diets. I will be sharing this book with others; I have purchased some coconut oil to try and wish that this information had been available 20 years ago.
December 3, 2013
This book is a fascinating read which gives hope to people with a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's. I think it's unfortunate that the author chose to use the word "cure" in the title, however, as it does not really offer a cure for the brain damage which causes the symptoms of the disease. Rather, it offers evidence that ketones from MCT and coconut oils can provide an alternate fuel source for the damaged brain and thereby improve cognitive function. Much of the book chronicles the author's personal story, which is also covered in a series of YouTube videos and several articles. Like others, I thought the book was needlessly long. On the other hand, it can take a lot to convince other family members that this non-drug approach is worth a try! I and at least two of my friends are struggling with just such a situation, and we have purchased this book to pass along to our skeptical relatives.
May 27, 2016
My husband pointed this book out to me as we have a family member who was recently diagnosed with early-onset AD. Written by an MD whose husband has early-AD, this book was easy to read and well reported. I've since purchased copies of this book for family members and encouraged friends to buy it. We have also incorporated more coconut oil/MCT oils into our diet, and while I don't have memory problems, I feel the addition has made my thinking more sharp and has given me better reflexes.
May 4, 2012
This is a fascinating book that is a combination of autobiography and scientific nutritional information on body fuels and how short chain triglycerides are converted as fuel for the brain. I wish I had known this 10 years ago when we discovered my mother had Alzheimer's disease. Coconut oil is worth a try for AD, ALS, MS, and neurological disorders.
February 27, 2018
Incredible - the beginning to the end of Alzheimer's.
Dr Dale Brendensen's work continued the work of Dr. Mary Newport.
Hope and healing DO exist for this life shattering condition.
Dr Dale Brendensen's work continued the work of Dr. Mary Newport.
Hope and healing DO exist for this life shattering condition.
November 1, 2015
Perhaps organic, pure coconut oil along with MCT oil will be the answer to reversing many of the symptoms of Alzheimer's and even lead to a cure. The gist of this treatment is that the liver can produce ketones from the mid-chain fatty acids of coconut oil, which then act as the energy for the brain cells who cannot respond to glucose any longer. Well worth the time to read this insightful, true story. Lots of doctorly, scientific explanations of the various cellular reactions of the various fats, with some helpful diagrams. Good sources for extra reading, coconut and MCT oil retailers, Alzheimer's support groups. Totally helpful and informative.
December 14, 2015
I think this is the first thing I would restudy if I had a relative or friend coming down with Alzheimer's disease, which is a catastrophe.
The author is a medical doctor, and has finally learned through personal experience why the medical establishment is not interested in a cheap handling for Alzheimer's.
The author is a medical doctor, and has finally learned through personal experience why the medical establishment is not interested in a cheap handling for Alzheimer's.
October 25, 2017
Incredible book. Well worth the time.
December 6, 2021
Sehr aufschlussreich und genau erklärt, super gut verständlich auch für Laien.
Read
June 3, 2023Rose Weel is my name, I live in USA. I want to say to the whole world how my husband was cured of his Alzheimer’s disease. Brothers and Sisters, my husband is 78 years old. He is a retired US Army. He fought so many wars, and had encounter with so many dangerous diseases. Before he embarked on his last peace mission to Iraq they were administered injections that will enable them carry out their duties effectively. So they went to the battle field where he lost so many of his colleagues and also he was shot on his throat but bullets don’t have much effect on him. So after the battle he survived it and returned back to USA off course he was rewarded heavily by the government, and that lead to his retirement. But after his retirement, he began to behave funny like forgetting all he did in the past, and sometimes don’t recognize me as his wife quickly. I took him to Military hospital, and the doctor said some kind of liquid in his body is causing him so many reactions, and this is affecting his brain. To cut the long story short, after much diagnoses using EEG, and also the test of PROTEIN 14-3-3 all was pointing out to the fact that his brain has malfunctioned. So he was giving medicines but his condition was still becoming worse even while taking the medicines administered. So we went back to the military hospital, and he was finally diagnosed of Alzheimer’s disease and this the doctor said have no cure. So his conditions began to get worst by the day. I cried out for help, but the government only gave us financial support. I all the time surf the web looking for possible cure until I ran into a blog where a man named James Watt gave testimony on how his cousin was cured of CJD by a herbal doctor called Doctor Uwadia Amenifo. In his testimony he imputed the contact detail of the herbalist. So I quickly copied out the contact details of Uwadia, and I contacted him immediately and explained to him what my husband is going through. He encouraged me and promised me that surly he will cure my husband, so after all necessary arrangement was made; he prepared the herbal medicine, and shipped it to me in USA, so I followed his instructions, and gave the medicine to my husband. Behold just like a magic in my eyes my husband was responding positively to the medicine in just less than 3 weeks I started giving him the medicine, he was very okay, and in less than 7 weeks my husband was totally cured, and as I speak to you now my husband is totally cured, and he is now very okay, and in good health. So please all here shall help me say a big thanks to Doctor Uwadia Amenifo for helping me cure my husband of his Alzheimer’s disease. Please if you need Doctor Uwadia’s contact details, here is it. Email (doctoruwadiaamenifo@gmail.com) God bless you all.
November 4, 2024
Dr. Mary Newport shares details of her personal story of her husband's Alzheimer's with symptoms starting in his early 50's. Her story is also a pretty good history of the challenges and explanation of why a cure has not been found for this terrible disease. Originally written many years ago, make sure to get the 3rd edition which was updated in 2023.
Her own research using MCT oil in the NICU was a game changer for her husband and threw her in the middle of trying to spread the word and to increase funding for research for coconut/MCT oil and a ketogenic diet. She explains the science and gives many case studies of people with no other options improving their quality of life. She has updated with the research that has been done since which supports dietary changes as being the most impactful change that can be made after other medical causes have been ruled out. For example, she includes the impact of many drugs taken for other conditions impacting brain health deleteriously.
If you are supporting someone with cognitive decline, this book is a hearty resource, but maybe not the one I would start with. The summary is that increasing intake of MCT oil by spoonfuls is a pretty easy thing to try with no downside. Read to understand dosing and context though and work with a professional to rule out other causes.
Her own research using MCT oil in the NICU was a game changer for her husband and threw her in the middle of trying to spread the word and to increase funding for research for coconut/MCT oil and a ketogenic diet. She explains the science and gives many case studies of people with no other options improving their quality of life. She has updated with the research that has been done since which supports dietary changes as being the most impactful change that can be made after other medical causes have been ruled out. For example, she includes the impact of many drugs taken for other conditions impacting brain health deleteriously.
If you are supporting someone with cognitive decline, this book is a hearty resource, but maybe not the one I would start with. The summary is that increasing intake of MCT oil by spoonfuls is a pretty easy thing to try with no downside. Read to understand dosing and context though and work with a professional to rule out other causes.
December 16, 2019
I was looking around on Youtube and came across an interview with the author of this book. It looked interesting and so I downloaded the iPad version of this and read it in about three days. I suppose I was so motivated because it seemed to offer some hope for Alzheimer’s which is related to corticobasal degeneration.
This book is mostly the personal story of the author and then and explanation of the theory behind it. The author, Mary Newport, is a neonatologist whose husband developed Alzheimer’s. She began looking for anything which might address his problems. She followed the approach of finding the most promising medical approaches, but they didn’t seem to do any good. Somewhere along the way she learned about the use of ketones in battling the problem. The theory is that people with this brain disorder are actually suffering from a sort of diabetes of the brain. Essentially, the brain is no longer able to get energy from sugar. Ketones are another way of getting energy to cells and ketones are either from starvation or from medium chain triglycerides. The most available form of this is found in coconut oil. Dr. Newport began putting coconut oil in her husband’s oatmeal and his response was dramatic.
This book is mostly the personal story of the author and then and explanation of the theory behind it. The author, Mary Newport, is a neonatologist whose husband developed Alzheimer’s. She began looking for anything which might address his problems. She followed the approach of finding the most promising medical approaches, but they didn’t seem to do any good. Somewhere along the way she learned about the use of ketones in battling the problem. The theory is that people with this brain disorder are actually suffering from a sort of diabetes of the brain. Essentially, the brain is no longer able to get energy from sugar. Ketones are another way of getting energy to cells and ketones are either from starvation or from medium chain triglycerides. The most available form of this is found in coconut oil. Dr. Newport began putting coconut oil in her husband’s oatmeal and his response was dramatic.
February 5, 2024
Send love❤️.. My Husband had Parkinson's disease and was dealing with shakes, stiffness and balance issues – it was like his body was in rebellion. Meds ( Levodopa ) and therapies were not doing much, so we thought about trying alternative methods as we heard interesting stories about Ayurvedic herbs with this disease. We explored the path and it changed his life with all symptoms totally reversed - Shakes calmed down, stiffness took a hike. My husband is living proof that natural Ayurvedic herbs can be a game-changer in the face of Parkinson's as he is totally cured and fine now. The journey wasn't always smooth, but the results speak for themselves. If anyone out there is facing a similar battle, consider giving Ayurvedic herbs a shot. We got the Ayurvedic herbs which cured him from natural herbs centre. com I recommend Ayurvedic treatment from Natural Herbs Centre for Parkinson’s disease versus taking the pharmaceutical drugs that only deal with specific symptoms and have damaging side effects to your body.
September 16, 2022
I think she's on to something, but maybe a little quick to jump to conclusions due to her personal investment in this. I'd love to see more research on the topic.
I found the chapter on beta amyloids particularly fascinating. She didn't say it, but it's almost as if they behave like prions in the human brain. It makes me wonder if, some time in the future, we will find a connection there. It does seem incredibly coincidental to me that every mass scale incidence of neural tissue cannibalism (New Guinea, human growth hormone injections, meat and bone meal feed in the UK) quickly culminated into a mass epidemic of prion diseases, even though the incidence of natural occurrence is quite low. What are the chances of contaminating the supply that quickly? Well, if we all harbor low levels of prions or proteins that eventually behave like them, then it makes sense that consuming neural tissue like that would speed up the process.
I found the chapter on beta amyloids particularly fascinating. She didn't say it, but it's almost as if they behave like prions in the human brain. It makes me wonder if, some time in the future, we will find a connection there. It does seem incredibly coincidental to me that every mass scale incidence of neural tissue cannibalism (New Guinea, human growth hormone injections, meat and bone meal feed in the UK) quickly culminated into a mass epidemic of prion diseases, even though the incidence of natural occurrence is quite low. What are the chances of contaminating the supply that quickly? Well, if we all harbor low levels of prions or proteins that eventually behave like them, then it makes sense that consuming neural tissue like that would speed up the process.
April 21, 2025
This is an exceptional book that would be an excellent resource for anyone who is or knows someone who has Alzheimer's. It is the authors believe that ingesting coconut oil or MCT oil will not only aid with Alzheimer's but other conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Huntingtons, ALS, certain cancers and traumatic brain injuries. Coconut oil is readily available and from the testimonials received by the author it would seem that many have seen significant improvements in their loved ones. The basis behind the coconut oil is the ketones that are created when ingested and used as an alternative source of fuel by the brain. While the author has many opinions which I don't entirely agree with there are just as many that caused me to pause and re think. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, ended up purchasing my own copy and am ready to make coconut oil a part of my diet.
December 24, 2022
I was diagnosed 2011. i was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. My symptoms progressed quickly. Soon i was having difficulty breathing, swallowing and even walking short distances. With the help of Health Herbs Clinic natural herbs I have been able to reverse my symptoms using diet, herbs, which i feel has made the most difference. The Parkinson’s natural formula immensely helped my condition, it reversed my Parkinson’s. my slurred speech, then the tremors, and mobility gradually disappeared, even my handwriting is getting better visit their website at health herbs clinic people are suffering from this horrible disease due to lack of information.
April 10, 2023
I read this because a friend has dementia. The main take away was that coconut oil (several tablespoons a day sprinkled on food) was quite helpful. The more I read, about examples of memory loss, the more it seemed likely that I may have early onset Alzheimer's. I went and bought some high grade coconut oil before I forgot. Now i just need to remember to use it ;)
Twelve Benefits of Coconut Oil >
https://facty.com/food/nutrition/12-b...
Twelve Benefits of Coconut Oil >
https://facty.com/food/nutrition/12-b...
July 27, 2018
Very interesting- keto diet could be helpful, and MCT oil and Coconut Oil consumed daily.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews