Dr. Mary Newport may have found a cure for Alzheimer’s disease with coconut oil. Dr. Newport has published the book “Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure?” (2011) and travels around the US preaching the benefits of coconut oil. Dr. Newport has also been interviewed by several notable programs about this “cure.” Using coconut oil as a potential cure for Alzheimer’s has been making news within the last few years by several notable doctors other than Dr. Newport; since it is still a relatively new development, there is no entire consensus among the medical field about the possible benefits or the possible health risks.

Dr. Bruce Fife, also known as the “Coconut Doctor,” presented his evidence in his book, “Stop Alzheimer’s Now.” Fife believes that coconut oil is the cure for Alzheimer’s and has even established a nonprofit organization called the Coconut Research Center in order to educate the public about the miracles of the coconut. He has documented his researches in two books, “Coconut Cures” (2005) and “Coconut Water.”

Dr. Mercola, a highly respected osteopathic physician and New York Times bestselling author, discussed Dr. Newport’s findings and presents his own explanations and reasoning why coconut oil may truly work towards curing Alzheimer’s. In his article, Dr. Mercola stated, “Dr. Mary Newport discusses ketone bodies, an alternative fuel for your brain which your body makes when digesting coconut oil, and how coconut oil may offer profound benefits in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.” This could be life-changing because if coconut oil is truly the cure for Alzheimer’s disease, this will be one of the most impressive natural health finds in years. Dr. Newport backs up her claim that coconut oil is the key because of the remarkable recovery of her own husband.

The main reasoning why coconut oil could cure the disease is because there are several substances that can prevent brain atrophy, which is the main reason Alzheimer’s progresses. However, there is one substance is different from others because “it may even restore and renew neuron and nerve function in your brain after damage has set in. The substance in question is called ketone bodies, or ketoacids. Ketones are what your body produces when it converts fat (as opposed to glucose) into energy. And a primary source of ketone bodies are the medium chain triglycerides (MCT) found in coconut oil!” The reason coconut oil may work is because it “contains about 66 percent MCTs.”

Not only will ketone bodies help Alzheimer’s disease, but it “may also extend to a number of other health conditions”, according to Dr. Newport:

“Further, this is a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclero­sis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), drug resistant epilepsy, brittle type I diabetes, and diabetes type II, where there is insulin resistance. Ketone bodies may help the brain recover after a loss of oxygen in newborns through adults, may help the heart re­cover after an acute attack, and may shrink cancer­ous tumors.”

The proper amount of coconut oil to take is very scientific. According to Dr. Newport’s calculations, just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or 7 level teaspoons) would supply you with the equivalent of 20 grams of MCT. Taking this amount would work either to prevent against Alzheimer’s or to treat the already existing disease. Dr. Mercola suggests to start with taking one teaspoon of coconut oil with food in the mornings and gradually add more coconut oil every few days until you are able to tolerate four tablespoons. Dr. Mercola also suggests repeating the dose of four tablespoons of coconut oil twice a day if you already have pre-Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer’s.

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The ancient mind-body exercise of tai chi is becoming a modern health management tool. Doctors have discovered that performing tai chi can speed recovery of cancer survivors, reduce bone fractures in older people, and improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease and fibromyalgia.

Tai chi evolved as a martial art, like kung fu and taikwondo. It combines traditional patterns of slow, graceful movements with mindfulness and controlled breathing. As a fighting style, tai chi emphasizes balance and concentration, meeting force and aggression with calmness and flexibility to deflect the opponent’s energy rather than trading blows. Those same elements have made it a popular low impact exercise with obvious health benefits.

But doctors at the University of Missouri wondered if those health benefits could be used to help cancer patients regain some of the cognitive function (the ability to pay attention), that is lost from battling the disease. They asked 23 women with a history of cancer, including ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia to participate in tai chi Classes two times per week. After 10 weeks the women reported improved concentration with reduced stress, better mood, and more energy.

In a report published this month in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, the doctors who designed the study, Stephanie Reid-Arndt, Sandy Matsuda, and Cathy Cox said that loss of cognitive function occurs in about 30 percent of patients recovering from a severe form of cancer.

Cognitive loss can cause stress and harm psychological well being. They said that many cancer survivors have traditionally used drugs to overcome these problems. Tai chi may provide an alternative therapy to speed recovery and restore psychological well being, they said.

In a different study at the Oregon Research Institute, patients with Parkinson’s disease had substantial improvement in their balance after twice-weekly tai chi sessions for 24 weeks. Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease of the nervous system that causes tremors and loss of muscle control. It affects over six million people worldwide. As the disease progresses, people frequently lose the ability to keep their balance and perform simple tasks.

Traditional treatments to prevent these problems, such as stretching and weight training, provide some relief. But the research team of doctors Fuzhong Li, Peter Harmer, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Eckstrom, Ronald Stock, Johnny Galver, Gianni Maddalozzo, and Sara S. Batya speculated that tai chi might provide better results.

“Because the program emphasized rhythmic weight shifting, symmetric foot stepping, and controlled movements near the limits of stability, we hypothesized that tai chi would be more effective in improving postural stability in limits-of-stability tasks than a resistance-based exercise regimen or low-impact stretching,” they said.

They suggested that the constant shifting of body weight and flexibility required by tai chi helped patients develop better reflexes to respond to the dyskinesia (loss of body control), caused by Parkinson’s. More work needs to be done, they said, but their results “show that tai chi is more effective than low-intensity, low-impact exercise programs in alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and improving functional ability.”

In two other recent studies, people with fybromyalgia and osteopenia showed improvement in their ability to cope with their disease after practicing tai chi.

Fybromyalgia is a disease that causes widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive disturbance (lack of concentration), and joint stiffness. With no known cure, patients frequently require medication to control their symptoms. Doctors from five medical institutes in Germany asked 362 of their patients with fibromyalgia to engage in “meditative movement therapies” which include yoga, tai chi, and Qigong, an exercise similar to tai chi.

The patients reported less fatigue and depression and fewer sleep disturbances. It wasn’t clear if the results would last, but the researchers concluded that meditative movement therapies like tai chi could provide a safe alternative to drug therapy for many people suffering from fibromyalgia.

Finally, doctors at Harvard Medical School reported in February that older women with osteopenia (reduced bone density), showed significant improvement in their bone density and their loss of mobility due to aging after completing a nine month course of tai chi.

Osteopenia occurs frequently in women after menopause, making them much more prone to bone fractures even from minor stumbles and falls. In the Harvard study, the womens’ bone density was monitored as well as their “bio-motion,” their ability to keep their balance while moving. In both measures the women who practiced tai chi showed clear improvement over a control group who received only the usual care for osteopenia.

Why was tai chi better than standard, low-impact exercises such as walking and stretching? The doctors suggested that the exaggerated movements of the hips and lower legs required by tai chi exerted more pressure on the bones and muscles, causing them to gradually strengthen.

Tai chi clearly shows promise as a safe, life-enhancing alternative to traditional medical techniques for helping older women maintain the strength and mobility, they said.

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New research suggests women who have migraine or have had them in the past are at an increased risk for developing depression compared to women who have never had migraine. The study was released on February 22, 2012 and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012.

For the study, researchers classified 36,154 women without depression who were enrolled in the Women’s Health Study and had provided information about migraine. Women were classified as either having active migraine with aura, active migraine without aura, past history of migraine (but not within the last year) or no history of migraine. Women also provided information about diagnoses of depression.

A total of 6,456 women had current or past migraine. During an average 14 years of follow-up, 3,971 of the women developed depression. Women with any history of migraine were about 40 percent more likely to develop depression than women without a history of migraine. The results were the same regardless if a woman had migraine with aura, which involves visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zigzag lines or a temporary loss of vision.

“This is one of the first large studies to examine the association between migraine and the development of depression over time,” said Tobias Kurth, MD, Sc.D., with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Inserm in France and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “We hope our findings will encourage doctors to speak to their migraine patients about the risk of depression and potential ways to prevent depression.”

The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute. The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

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Surrounded by medical heavyweights, Muhammad Ali continued the fight by honoring 50 top surgeons and physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Barrow at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is home of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

With approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year, there are currently 1 million Americans with Parkinson’s disease.  As of yet, there is no cure. Ali, who is a three-time Heavy Weight Boxing Champion and the most famous athlete in history, attended the ceremony.  He was diagnosed with the disease in 1984.

Ali and his wife, Lonnie, invited Barrow doctors to the special awards event to help commemorate the Institute’s 50th anniversary.  Ali is also celebrating his 70th birthday this year.

“Muhammad and I want to share in the celebration of Barrow’s anniversary by honoring the outstanding group of neurologists and neurosurgeons at St. Joseph’s,” said Lonnie Ali. “Together we are working to bring direct access to the same standard of medical care that Muhammad and I enjoy, to all those who suffer with Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders.”

The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center opened at the hospital in 1997. It has grown into the most comprehensive Parkinson’s treatment center in the nation.  The center’s doctors were among the 50 from Barrow who were honored.

The center is largely funded by the generous donations of Celebrity Fight Night which has donated almost $20 million to the hospital since the star-studded event started 18 years ago. Ali is always the honored guest of the evening.  This year’s Celebrity Fight Night is March 24 and will feature such headliners as Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus and Lionel Richie.

“Muhammad and everyone associated with Fight Night wanted to salute the extraordinary medical community who are helping to lead the fight against Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions,” said Jimmy Walker, the founder of Celebrity Fight Night. “You are the real stars and the heavyweights of the medical community,” Walker told the Barrow physicians as he, Muhammad and Lonnie handed individual trophies to the 50 physicians.

St. Joseph’s Barrow is ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurological disorders and attracts patients from around the world.  The Institute performs more brain surgeries than any hospital in the United States.  ”Muhammad Ali is a remarkable inspiration to our entire medical community every day,” said Barrow Director Dr. Robert Spetzler. “Over the next 50 years, the progress in the fight against Parkinson’s will see dramatic advances and the physicians at Barrow will continue to play a major role in this battle.”

Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is internationally recognized as a leader in neurological research and patient care.

Established in 1962 Barrow treats patients with a wide range of neurological conditions, including brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, and neuromuscular disorders. The Barrow Neurological Institute is consistently rated among the Top 10 best hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Image Courtesy of  Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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In its bid to knock out memory disorders, Keep Memory Alive will turn up the heat at its 16th annual Power of Love Gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, as it celebrates the life and legacy of “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, while raising funds in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Muhammad Ali Center. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime celebrity-filled fundraising event are on sale now.

On Feb. 18, Keep Memory Alive, the fundraising arm of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, will transform the MGM Grand Garden Arena into a 70th birthday celebration for Ali designed to honor the boxing legend’s contribution to the world and raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, the disease “The Champ” has been battling since 1984.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s work toward enhanced treatments and research of neurocognitive disorders and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky.

Performers and celebrity supporters slated to appear at the celebration include Lenny Kravitz, Anthony Hopkins, John Legend, Cee Lo Green, Brad Garrett, Kelly Rowland, James Gandolfini, and Sammy Hagar. Boxing icons scheduled to attend the celebration include Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Roberto Duran, Angelo Dundee, and Leon Spinks. Even more big names from the entertainment and sports worlds will be added to the lineup as the event nears.

“This year’s Power of Love Gala will bring attention and funds to the important work being done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on a whole new scale,” said Larry Ruvo, Chairman, Keep Memory Alive. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to shed light on the fight to knock out neurocognitive disorders while celebrating the life and ongoing contributions of the legend, Muhammad Ali.”

In keeping with its 16-year history, the Power of Love Gala will showcase a celebrity-chef-packed dinner and one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items, but this year, the evening will also include a birthday celebration for Ali, featuring live performances and heartfelt tributes from some of the world’s hottest entertainers and sports icons. ABC will also televise the event nationally on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. EST/ 4 p.m. PST.

The gala’s celebration for Ali aligns with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health’s recent launch of a landmark study examining the long-term brain health of professional fighters. Aiming to improve the safety and health of fighters, the study will help determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, along with other tests, can detect subtle changes in brain health that correlate with impaired thinking and functioning.

Researchers hope the information uncovered by this research will eventually result in better ways to prevent permanent brain injury in not only fighters, but also in others who may suffer from brain trauma.

“We are thrilled to bring together some of the biggest entertainers, sports figures and celebrities in the world to salute Muhammad on this monumental evening.  Again, the People’s Champion is raising his fists high to support and bring awareness to these important organizations,” said Kraig Fox, Chief Operating Officer of CKX.

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According to a group of American researchers from the Brigham Hospital in Boston and Harvard University, Ibuprofen is able to effect the onset of Parkinson Disease. The study was lead by Dr. Xiang Gao, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a research scientist at Harvard School of Public Health, and it found a link between the use of ibuprofen and a reduction of the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s is a well-known illness that affects people around the world. It affects the five biggest countries in western Europe – France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom and Italy – as well as the ten most populated nations of the world – China, India, Indonesia, United States, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Japan and Russia. In total, more than four million people suffer Parkinson’s.

Dr. Gao has so far proved through research that ibuprofen, a commonly used anti-inflammatory pill, helps to reduce the risk of the degenerative disorder.  As he stated recently to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, this study is able to contribute substantially to a field that has been researched for two decades. Inflammation plays an important role in the breakdown of the central nervous system. What remains unknown is whether the inflammation causes the degeneration or if it is merely a consequence.

Scientist analyzed 98.892 cases of nurses who used ibuprofen. The case study had the nurses describe the frequency and consumption of analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen. They also informed scientist about their eating habits, body mass index, tobacco consumption, alcohol, caffeine, lactose and age – factors that could have an affect on the result.

After six years of study, Dr. Gao and his team had gathered information about 291 Parkinson’s cases. They found that those who consumed ibuprofen twice or more per week have a 40% less risk of suffering from Parkinson’s.

However, as published in the Neurology magazine, the same type of risk reduction was not found through the use of aspirin or acetaminophen. Since relation between illness and medicine was only found in the case of ibuprofan, the research team concluded that the two other analgesics could not be linked to Parkinson’s.

Researchers suggest that “inflammation mechanisms can contribute to the progressive loss of the black brain substance from the dopaminergic neurons”. And they add that there exist plenty of scientific literature, based on postmortem analyzes and experimental studies, that confirm this.

As a result, they insist that “ibuprofen can play a very important neuroprotective role.” Other evidence also suggest that this medicine can help sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease because of its believe effect towards preventing dementia.

In light of these findings, scientists are saying that the result needs to be verified through testings involving precocious Parkinson’s patients.

However, this study should be taken with caution. In the editorial that accompanied the Neurology magazine in which the study was published, James Bower and Beate Ritz suggest that prolonged consumption of ibuprofen has “a long list of secondary effects.” Additionally, one professor adds that “they should do more researches before recommending ibuprofen to prevent the illness”.

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