Story at-a-glance

• At present, an estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, this is expected to jump to 16 million, and in the next 20 years it is projected that Alzheimer's will affect one in four Americans
• The ability to smell is associated with the first cranial nerve and is often one of the first senses to be adversely affected by cognitive decline.
• In patients with Alzheimer’s, the ability to smell peanut butter through the left nostril was found to be significantly impaired
• Patients diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s have been enrolled in a clinical study—the first of its kind—to evaluate the effects of coconut oil versus placebo. Results are expected in about a year
• Previous investigation suggests that ketone bodies, an alternative fuel for your brain that your body makes when digesting coconut oil, might offer profound healing benefits in the fight against Alzheimer's disease