#2 Cognition and Brain Health
We know that in the body, too many carbs for too long can ‘break’ metabolism. This may also hold true in the brain, where to a degree metabolism can be measured by cognition and focus capacity.
This is a recurring theme in Alzheimer’s and other memory related studies, where there appears to be a glucose intolerance occurring in the brain. Essentially, regions of the brain begin to experience a decrease in their ability to transport and metabolize its primary energy source, glucose, causing cellular starvation and dysfunction.
Fortunately, glucose isn’t the only energy source usable by the brain. Ketones produced by fats like MCT oil can serve as an alternative (and support) to glucose metabolism in the brain, rescuing brain energy.
How can MCT oil specifically play a role?
- One study found that MCT oil contributed up to 8-9% of brain energy metabolism in adults who added 20-30 grams of MCT oil to their diet per day.
- In two Alzheimer’s studies, participants given MCT Oil performed significantly better in memory tests compared to those not receiving treatment.
The trend here, is that MCT oil leads to ketone production which metabolizes independently of glucose intolerance, and may even improve brain infrastructure to support healthier glucose metabolism.
Going a bit deeper
While exercise can improve the health and performance of your body, similar ‘stressors’ appear to ‘strengthen’ the health, resiliency, and metabolic potential of your brain.
These stressors that promote metabolic flexibility and neuroplasticity include: fasting, dietary cycling, and exercise – which interesting to us coincide with ketone production.
Cognition and Brain Health Summary:
Medium chain triglycerides play a role in brain health because the ketones they produce serve as an alternative brain fuel. This is increasingly valuable in conditions where traditional glucose metabolism is hindered, and we look forward to more research illuminating the way. In the present, MCT oils can be credited to greater cognition and focus as a dietary strategy for increasing ketones similar to fasting and exercise.
