Could coconut oil help fight ageing?

Eating a diet high in fat could stave off Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and other signs of ageing, new research claims.

High-fat diets postponed signs of ageing including impaired hearing and weight loss, and also stopped ageing of the brain, a study found. Scientists discovered medium chain fatty acids, like coconut oil, were particularly effective.  They believe the fats help slow down the ageing process, by helping to repair cells and DNA damaged as a result.  

As part of the new study, researchers analysed mice with a defective DNA repair system.  In humans, this defect causes the disorder Cockayne syndrome, where patients prematurely age as children and have a life-expectancy of between 10 and 12 years. Researchers found placing a mouse with this defect on a high-fat diet postponed ageing processes such as impaired hearing and weight loss.

It also postponed the ageing of the brain, giving hope to children who age prematurely and patients suffering Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

The study's lead author Professor Vilhelm Bohr, of the University of Copenhagen, said: 'The study is good news for children with Cockayne syndrome, because we do not currently have an effective treatment.

Source  - Daily Mail