Use of medium chain triglycerides for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other diseases resulting from reduced neuronal metabolism II
Methods and compositions for treating or preventing, the occurrence of senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, or other conditions arising from reduced neuronal metabolism and leading to lessened cognitive function are described. In a preferred embodiment the administration of triglycerides or fatty acids with chain lengths between 5 and 12, to said patient at a level to produce an improvement in cognitive ability.
1. A method of treating loss of cognitive function caused by Alzheimer's disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment in a patient that is ApoE4(−), the method comprising:
orally administering a dosage unit of medium chain triglyceride to said patient in need thereof such that the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the patient is raised to about 0.1 to 50 mM causing hyperketonemia in the patient, wherein the patient has a diet wherein carbohydrate intake is not restricted, resulting in ketone bodies being utilized for energy in the brain to thereby treat loss of cognitive function,
wherein the dosage unit is given in a single dose.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 0.2 to 20 mM.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 0.3 to 5 mM.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 0.5 to 2 mM.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 1 to 10 mM.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loss of cognitive function is caused by Alzheimer's Disease.
7. A method of treating loss of cognitive function caused by Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment in a patient that is ApoE4(−), the method comprising:
orally administering a dosage unit of medium chain triglyceride to said patient in need thereof such that the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate in the patient is raised to about 0.2 to 20 mM causing hyperketonemia in the patient, wherein the patient has a diet wherein carbohydrate intake is not restricted, resulting in ketone bodies being utilized for energy in the brain to thereby treat loss of cognitive function.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 0.3 to 5 mM.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 0.5 to 2 mM.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the blood level of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate is raised to about 1 to 10 mM.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dosage unit is given in a single dose.
12. A method of treating loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism in a patient that is ApoE4(−), the method comprising:
orally administering a dosage unit of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) to said patient in need thereof, wherein said MCT are administered at a dose of about 3.4 g per day to about 680 g per day causing hyperketonemia in the patient, wherein the patient has a diet wherein carbohydrate intake is not restricted, resulting in ketone bodies being utilized for energy in the brain to thereby treat loss of cognitive function,
wherein the dosage unit is given in a single dose.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the MCT are administered in a dose of about 17 g/day to 340 g/day.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the MCT are administered in a dose of about 34 g/day to 136 g/day.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the loss of cognitive function is caused by Alzheimer's Disease.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the MCT are administered in a dose of about 17 g per day to about 34 g per day.