The Impact of Coconut Oil Supplement on Cognitive Function in Young Adults

St. Edward’s University School of Natural Sciences

Department of BiologyJacob Boos*, Lauren Heller, Dr. Fidelma O’Leary

Measurement of Cognitive Abilities

● Nutrition● Brain Foods

o Fish (Omega-3)o Antioxidants o Vitamins E & B12

● Coconut Oil in patients with AD

Brain Enhancement

● Medium-Chain Triglyceride

● Ketogenesis

● Increase in HDL and LDL

● Cholesterol and the brain

Biochemistry of Coconut Oil

Research Question

Does coconut oil increase cognitive function

AND brain activity in undergraduate students?

1. Speed and Accuracy in cognitive tasks

2. Beta wave activity

Objectives

Methods

Lumosity

Timeline

Baseline EEG

Cognitive Test 2 and EEG

Consume 2000mg coconut oil

Cognitive Test 3 and EEG

60 minutes 60 minutes

Cognitive Test 1 and EEG

Lumosity Accuracy Cognitive Test Results

Test 1 Test 2 Test 30

102030405060708090

100

Perf

orm

ance

(%)

N=20 N=20 N=20

* α=0.05

** α=0.01

Lumosity Speed Cognitive Test Results

Test 1 Test 2 Test 30

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pe

rfo

rma

nc

e (

%)

*

**

N=20 N=20 N=20

*α=0.05

EEG Speed Cognitive Test Results

Baseline Test 1 Test 2 Test 322.8

23

23.2

23.4

23.6

23.8

24

Freq

uenc

y (H

z)

N=20 N=20N=20 N=20

*

• In young adults we can conclude:

● With coconut oil, cognitive speed is increased 60 and 120 minutes while maintaining accuracy after taking the supplement

● Beta wave activity is increased 60 minutes after taking the supplement

• In addition to the elderly, coconut oil increases cognitive function in young adults.

Conclusion

Works Cited Reger M, Henderson S, Craft S, et al. Effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults. Neurobiology Of Aging [serial online]. March 2004;25(3):311-314. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed June 23, 2014.

Fukao T, Lopaschuk G, Mitchell G. Pathways and control of ketone body metabolism: on the fringe of lipid biochemistry. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, And Essential Fatty Acids [serial online]. March 2004;70(3):243-251. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed June 24, 2014.

University of Kansas Medical Center. Lipid Metabolism. Available at: http://www.kumc.edu/AMA-MSS/Study/lipids.htm. Accessed June 24, 2014.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. APOE-4: The Clue to Why Low Fat Diet and Statins may Cause Alzheimer’s. Available at: http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/alzheimers_statins.html. Accessed June 24, 2014.

Acknowledgements

● Dr. Richard Kopec● NSF Grant #0969153● Dr. Fidelma O’Leary● Lauren Heller● All Subjects

Thank youSt. Edward’s University

Thank you.St. Edward’s University

Thank you.St. Edward’s University

Thank you.St. Edward’s University

Thank you.St. Edward’s University