Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition which affects the brain. It is a type of dementia which typically affects individuals who are over the age of 65 and so far, research studies have only been able to identify risk factors which may contribute to the illness but not specific causes. More research is being conducted worldwide to understand Alzheimer’s better. So far, there are drugs and non-drugs like Axona medical food which are prescribed or recommended by health care professionals for Alzheimer’s disease management.

What Happens in Alzheimer’s Disease?

There is no single factor which is responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. A combination of factors like genetic makeup, age, lifestyle, and environment may contribute to the development of the disease. MRI scans of individuals with Alzheimer’s have been widely studied to understand the changes that go on in the brain during the disease. The two main differences are:

·  Formation of Tangles and Plaques

Tangles are twisted fibres which form inside neurons and prevent the passage of vital energy and nutrients to the cells, thus damaging them.

Plaques are another beta-amyloid protein clumps which build up around the neurons instead of breaking down and damage the brain cells. The combination of these two abnormal formations damage healthy neurons which eventually die. This leads to a process where healthy neurons become damaged and die and eventually lead to the size of the brain shrinking. Research suggests that this process may start way before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s show up.

·  Reduced Glucose Metabolism

One of the biggest effects of Alzheimer’s is the way it debilitates cognition and memory. This mostly happens because the machines inside brain cells which are supposed to metabolise glucose into energy for the neurons stop functioning properly, thus starving the brain cells of the essential energy they need.

Thus, a big part of managing Alzheimer’s symptoms is to provide energy to the starving neurons. For this reason, medium chain triglycerides are being studied thoroughly as they are ketogenic and processed by the liver to release ketones- energy capsules which can cross the blood-brain barrier.

The Importance of MCTs in Management of Alzheimer’s Disease

Axona medical food is perhaps the most talked about non-drug with regards to Alzheimer’s. Axona contains MCTs or medium chain triglycerides which are known to be ketogenic in nature as they contain a kind of compound called medium-chain fatty acids that can enter the mitochondria without being activated. 

These fatty acids are broken down by the liver in a process called ketosis. The most important product of ketosis is ketone bodies. These ketone bodies can then reach the starving cerebral neurons and provide them with the fuel they require to survive. This is possible because ketones can pass through the blood-brain barrier. The use of MCTs in the management of Alzheimer’s is popular because it can diminish the adverse effects caused by the hypo-metabolism of glucose in the brain

While dietary management programs for Alzheimer’s patients are safe and safe and helpful in mild to moderate stages of the disease, some individuals may be at risk for ketoacidosis if exposed to MCTs like Axona. Such conditions include:

History of alcoholism

Diabetes

Inflammation of the metabolic system or the gastrointestinal system

Renal dysfunction

Allergy to milk or soy products