Use of medium chain triglycerides for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's Disease and other diseases resulting from reduced Neuronal Metabolism

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of medium chain triglycerides to a patient in need thereof.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administration is oral.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said administration is intravenous.  
     
     
         4 . The method  claim 1 , wherein said medium chain triglycerides are administered medium chain triglycerides are administered at a dose of about 0.5 g/kg/day to about 10 g/kg/day.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coadministering L-camitine or a derivative of L-camitine.  
     
     
         6 . The method  claim 5 , wherein said administration is oral, and said medium chain triglycerides are administered at a dose of about 0.5 g/kg/day to about 10 g/kg/day and said L-camitine or said derivative of L-camitine is administered at a dose of about 0.5 mg/kg/day to about 10 mg/kg/day.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said medium chain triglycerides are emulsified.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising coadministering L-camitine or a derivative of L-carnitine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said emulsified medium chain triglycerides and L-camitine or a derivative of L-camitine are administered in a formulation comprising 10-500 g emulsified medium chain triglycerides and 10-2000 mg L-camitine or derivative of L-camitine.  
     
     
         10 . A method of treating or preventing dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of free medium chain fatty acids.  
     
     
         11 . A method of treating or preventing dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of a medium chain triglyceride prodrug to a patient in need thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating or preventing dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism, comprising administering an effective amount of a therapeutic agent which induces utilization of fatty acids and development of ketosis to a patient in need thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A method of treating or preventing dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism, comprising coadministering an effective amount of an agent selected from the group consisting of medium chain triglycerides, medium chain fatty acids, and ketone bodies, and Lcamitine or a derivative of L-camitine to a patient in need thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein s aid coadministration is intravenous, and said agent selected from the group consisting of medium chain triglycerides, medium chain fatty acids, and ketone bodies is administered at a dose of about 0.5 g/kg/day to about 10 g/kg/day and said L-camitine or said derivative of L-camitine is administered at a dose of about 0.5 mg/kg/day to about 10 mg/kg/day.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said agent selected from the group consisting of medium chain triglycerides, medium chain fatty acids, and ketone bodies and L-camitine or a derivative of L-carnitine are administered in a formulation comprising 10-500 g of said agent and 10-2000 mg L-carnitine or derivative of L-camitine.  
     
     
         16 . A therapeutic agent for the treatment of prevention or dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism comprising medium chain triglycerides.  
     
     
         17 . A therapeutic agent for the treatment of prevention or dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism comprising free fatty acids derived from medium chain triglycerides .  
     
     
         18 . A therapeutic agent for the treatment of prevention or dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism comprising a medium chain triglyceride prodrug.  
     
     
         19 . A therapeutic agent for the treatment of prevention or dementia of Alzheimer's type, or other loss of cognitive function caused by reduced neuronal metabolism comprising an agent which induces utilization of fatty acids and development of ketosis to a patient in need thereof.