When I was younger there were no elders in my family, extended family, or friend's families who had this awful disease. My elder relatives were very much a vital part of our lives and integrated into everything we did. I know it wasn't called Alzheimers back then, but I knew very few people who had diminished mental capacity as they aged. Fast forward to the present and it seems that so many more seniors are afflicted with this illness.
Is the cause environmental, from having less healthy diets and lifestyles than past generations, social deprivation, or from living longer lives. It seems so odd to me that we would have this tremendous leap in cases in such a short period of time.
I also wonder if it is coming from a shift in our thinking about aging. In the past most people did physical labor until the day they died. We did not warehouse older citizens or make them feel like their usefulness was up. My grandfather worked on his farm until his 80s. My grandmother was dancing 2 weeks before she passed.
If it is a societal issue, that troubles me. The last few decades have ushered in a youth-fixated philosophy, so much so, that the media and advertisers try to suggest that people in their 40s+ are "old." We separate generations and grandparents are just for "visiting" on Sundays. Could lack of inter-generational contact be contributing to the cognitive issues we are seeing now? I don't know.
I know very little about this illness, and am hoping others will share their theories. I hope we find a cure...it is such a dignity-robbing disease.
True, not all cultures use coconut oil, but they use olive oil, fish oil, etc.
It is so funny how we trust a doctor without question when he or she whips out that Rx pad, but not when someone suggests a natural, safe, and inexpensive remedy. I think it is a cultural shift brought on by drug companies and the need for a "quick fix" for our problems. Natural regimens take discipline and happen over time...not really appealing to the average American. I know that it is hard for my Mom to do anything if she doesn't see an immediate response (like, it two days!).
I read and article recently that said that we had so few manufactured drugs before the 1950s. Now, I can only imagine....
Anyway, this will be an interesting topic to follow...
As to the original question of this thread, I have a hard time thinking that we see so much dementia now because we have a widespread deficiency in coconut oil. I doubt that my Nordic ancestors had any more coconut oil in their diets than I do -- less, probably, because they didn't buy movie popcorn. :) Fish oil? Probably. Tropical produce? Not so much.
World wide I would guess that the portion of the population for whom coconut oil would be a "natural" part of the diet would be relatively small.
Again, I am not nay-saying your results. I'm just doubting it answers the question of why we hear of so many dementia cases now.
Both our environment and diet directly impact our health. As I read more, I can see that this might be a good supplement to add to my diet. Do you use it as well?
To start a new thread, From the Home page: Click on the "Community" bar then, "Ask a Question." In the "What is your Question" box just create a title (ie: "Has anyone had a good result from using coconut oil in treating the symptoms of Alzheimers or Parkinsons.") In the "Add more Details" box, just write what you experienced. You can post titles of web articles, but not web addresses (they will be removed.)
I think this topic merits its own thread...thanks.
I think I may ask Mom to try this for PD tremors. She is so limited in mobility by the tremors and loss of balance. It couldn't hurt.
I noticed that there is a particular type that you need to buy. Correct? I will look at tropical traditions.
Would you consider starting a new thread about this topic? I would really like to see if other members have used coconut oil for both Alz. and PD and their results.
I am very interested in this topic and will look around on the internet for more info. I am not at all surprised that doctors are skeptical. They are "chemistry" oriented. Everytime I ask a new doc if they are open to using both medical and naturopathic remedies they give me a blank stare.
I realize that, as with drugs, we need to use caution with natural supplements as well. But when I hear the long list of side effects of most drugs I am appalled. No doctor will ever discuss the side effects - mostly because THEY do not even know about them. The next thing you know there are all these law suits because of poorly researched pharmaceuticals. Then we keep the lawyers in business.
In my state, naturopathic doctors (NDs) cannot even practice or get a license. So much for choice.
I am glad your hub is doing better with the coconut oil. Are there any known side effects? I would be interested in hearing more.
I agree with you...we have ventured to far into "manufactured diets" and less into what is natural and best for our bodies.
I am wondering if any of our other forum members have tried this supplement and if they saw any noticable changes...
thanks for posting this information.
A lot of research has gone into this and is proving that oils like canola are bad and the very best oil for brain health is coconut oil, but the drug companies can't patent it, so they won't accept it. My husband's cognitive skills had gone down to 11 out of 30 and the doctor said I should put him in a nursing home but I found out about coconut oil and started giving it to him and within three hours he was talking in intelligible sentences. Within 2 weeks the doctor saw him and was amazed. He ordered a new test and he was 24 out of 30. Now he is perfectly normal again. If you are interested in his story go to YouTube and check GrandmaCarolFlett or search coconut oil and dementia.
Both my fear and curiousity about this topic began when it seemed that an entire industry sprung up around Alzheimers/Dementia. Drug companies are hopping on the band wagon with all kinds of meds that have limited use or dangerous side effects. There are doctors specializing in this area, but the tests are inconclusive and they depend mostly on anecdotal information from families (the famlies should send the doctor their bill), and there are doctors who are misdiagnosing Alzheimers every time an elder walks through the door with a health issue. (it takes too much time to diagnose correctly, ie: a UTI, drug interaction, or simple forgetfulness of age that masks itself as Alz.) And as ladeeda wrote, "They are spending money to diagnose but still do not have effective meds to slow down or stop the progression."
I fear that there are many families who are in a hurry to have their elders diagnosed with Alz. in order to have access to their finances or take control. (I have witnessed this personally.)
I worry that the medical community and other related businesses, such as they are now, are salivating over the prospect of the boomers entering their elderhood. The main focus of most doctors that Mom has seen, is their bottom line. Their two methods of dealing with any patient are: pills and surgery. I would like to see an equal number of research dollars go into natural, non-toxic measures for preventing the disease. Western medicine is so "cure" oriented. Why have the disease first, then try and figure out how to "fix" it....with all the side effects, no less? I am not anti-western medicine, I just think we need better alternatives than the ones we have now.
I would also be interested in how social deprivation impacts Alz. We have always been told "use it or lose it" and I can't help but think that is true of our brains too. The most lively seniors I know are active in their communities and are interested in learning and personal growth...many have physical limitations. So, I wonder if that has something to do with their not having this illness.
When you have a disease that encompasses so many symptoms, I can see how challenging it would be to research it.
L & J: thanks for your input....enlightening!
Thanks for the info, will be spreading the word about this... I know some of our elders would love to be able to make a difference in this hateful awful disease....
hugs.
Dementia is more common now in part because more people are living to an age where they are suseptible. And it is not a hush-hush topic. My grandmother was pretty sharp into her nineties, but she spent her final years bedridden in a nursing home, not always recognizing her visitors and often off in some world not shared by them. No one ever suggested she had dementia, and she was not counted among dementia statistics at that time. But she no doubt would be now.
I think we cannot minimize the importance of more people of dementia age and better record keeping about health matters. In 1900, about 4% of the population was over 65. In 2000, about 12% of the population was over 65. And the population is much bigger. I don't know if anyone kept track of how many people were "senile" in 1900; lots of agencies track how many are being treated or cared for with dementia in 2000.
I'll bet this isn't the only answer, but I think it is an important one.