Compositions and methods for improving or preserving brain function

A method for improving performance in, or reversing, preventing, reducing, or delaying decline in at least one of cognitive function memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in an aging mammal comprising the steps of:

• identifying an aging mammal having, or at risk of, decline in at least one of cognitive function memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior;
• and
• administering to the mammal on an extended regular basis a composition comprising medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in an amount effective to improve performance in, or to reverse, prevent, reduce, or delay decline in at least one of cognitive function memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in the mammal wherein said composition increases the circulating concentration of at least one type of ketone body in the mammal;
• and wherein the MCT are of the formula:
• wherein the R1, R2, and R3 esterified to the glycerol backbone are each independently fatty acids having 5-12 carbons.

A method for improving performance in, or reversing, preventing, reducing, or delaying decline in at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in an aging mammal comprising the steps of:

• (a) identifying an aging mammal not having an age-related cognitive impairment disease;
• and
• (b) administering to the mammal, on an extended regular basis, a composition comprising medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in an amount effective to improve performance in, or reverse, prevent, reduce, or delay decline in at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in the mammal;
• wherein said composition increases the circulating concentration of at least one type of ketone body in the mammal;
• and wherein the MCT are of the formula:
• wherein the R1, R2, and R3 esterified to the glycerol backbone are each independently fatty acids having 5-12 carbons;
• (c) measuring the concentration of at least one type of ketone body, and at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in the mammal at least periodically for the duration of the administering step;
• (d) comparing at least one type of ketone body concentration and the measure of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior to that of a control mammal not receiving the administered composition;
• (e) correlating the ketone body concentration with the measure of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior thereby establishing the improvement in performance of, or reversal, prevention, reduction, or delay of the decline of at least one of cognitive function, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior as a result of the administration of the composition.

A method for improving performance in, or reversing, preventing, reducing, or delaying decline in at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in a population of healthy aging mammals comprising the steps of:

• (a) identifying a population of healthy aging mammals not having age-related cognitive impairment;
• (b) dividing the population into at least a control group and one or more test groups;
• (c) formulating at least one delivery system for delivering a composition comprising medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in an amount effective for elevating and maintaining an elevated level of at least one type of ketone body in the blood of an individual mammal;
• wherein the MCT are of the formula:
• wherein the R1, R2, and R3 esterified to the glycerol backbone are each independently fatty acids having 5-12 carbons;
• wherein, on an extended regular basis, each test group receives a formulation delivering a composition comprising MCT and the control group does not receive any composition comprising MCT;
• (d) comparing at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior in the control and test groups;
• (e) determining which of the delivery systems for delivering the composition comprising MCT was effective in improving performance in, or reversing, preventing, reducing, delaying decline of at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior;
• and
• (f) administering a treatment-based delivery system determined in step (e) to a population of aging mammals, thereby improving performance in, or reversing, preventing, reducing, delaying decline in at least one of cognitive function, memory, motor function, cerebrovascular function, or behavior.