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Coffee Combats Dementia, Say Researchers
by
findingDulcinea Staff
A new study says a daily cup of coffee could ward off dementia, adding to the litany of often contradictory findings about the popular drink.
30-Second Summary
A study by a team of researchers for the Journal of Neuroinflamation reported that when rabbits were given a caffeine supplement, “a vital barrier” between the brain and the main blood supply was protected from the dementia-causing damage cholesterol can inflict.
The experiment showed that the equivalent of one cup of coffee a day was enough to yield the benefits.
The barrier “is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream,” reports the BBC.
Previous studies have tied caffeine to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and this new study may explain why.
But conflicting reports make coffee a tough drink to figure out.
Coffee has been linked to a range of health problems, including miscarriage and diabetes complications, but also to many health benefits, including protection of the brain and prevention of certain cancers, such as ovarian and liver cancer.
The consensus, according to most experts, is that moderate coffee consumption is safe, and possibly beneficial, so coffee fans can keep up the daily habit.
The experiment showed that the equivalent of one cup of coffee a day was enough to yield the benefits.
The barrier “is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream,” reports the BBC.
Previous studies have tied caffeine to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and this new study may explain why.
But conflicting reports make coffee a tough drink to figure out.
Coffee has been linked to a range of health problems, including miscarriage and diabetes complications, but also to many health benefits, including protection of the brain and prevention of certain cancers, such as ovarian and liver cancer.
The consensus, according to most experts, is that moderate coffee consumption is safe, and possibly beneficial, so coffee fans can keep up the daily habit.
Headline Link: ‘Daily Caffeine “Protects Brain”’
"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilize the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders,” said Dr. Jonathan Geiger, who led the study. The study reinforces previous research that has found that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can make the crucial blood barrier “leaky”; Alzheimer’s researchers say this can trigger the condition.
Source: The BBC
Related Topics: The Good, the Bad and the Confusing
The good
A group of studies conducted in Europe in Japan in 2007 showed that regular coffee consumption could reduce the risk of liver cancer by as much as 41 percent, compared to people who never drank coffee. Animal research has showed that certain compounds in coffee may block harmful enzymes involved in cancer development.
Source: Reuters
Scientists also recently discovered that caffeine may play a role in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer. In a study released in the March 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, researchers at the Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health reported: “The possibility that caffeine may reduce ovarian cancer risk, particularly for women who have not previously used exogenous hormones, is intriguing and warrants further study, including an evaluation of possible biological mechanisms."
Source: ScienceDaily
The bad
Recent research suggests caffeine could cause problems by raising blood sugar levels in type two diabetics. In a study, glucose levels rose by 8 percent when participants took pills filled with the level of caffeine in four cups of coffee. Past research, however, suggested the antioxidants in coffee could prevent diabetes in women. The answer to the confusing findings? “Keep coffee consumption under control,” said one researcher.
Source: HealthDay
The most recent study on the topic showed that pregnant women who drank more than two cups of coffee per day had nearly double the risk of miscarriage than women who drank no caffeine. But the findings—the result of a two-year study—did not provide any definitive answers on how much caffeine is safe to drink during pregnancy. Previous research found moderate caffeine intake during pregnancy was perfectly safe.
Source: ABC
The solution?
Moderate coffee consumption appears to offer a host of health perks, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, brain protection and reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a report from the Mayo Clinic in February 2007. Too much caffeine can result in some health problems, including restlessness, anxiety and headaches, but “for most people, it appears that a moderate daily intake of coffee—two to four cups—doesn't seem to hurt and may even help.”
Source: The Mayo Clinic
Coffee shows up as number eight on LiveScience’s “Top 10 Bad Things That Are Good For You” list. “The consensus, now anyways, seems to favor those who enjoy their morning jolt—unrelated studies claim coffee is a major source of antioxidants in our diet and can help lower your risk of diabetes. Something in the beans is also thought to ease the onset of cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis, good news for those who like to party hard all night before their morning caffeine boost.”
Source: LiveScience
Medical advice on what is good or bad for our health sometimes seems as changeable as the weather. But even casual readers can make informed choices from apparently contradictory findings.
Source: findingDulcinea
Background: Caffeine May Prevent Alzheimer’s
After conducting experiments that showed caffeine intake may help prevent not only Alzheimer’s, but also Parkinson’s disease, scientists suggested that people approaching the senior years “might be able to get some protection simply by enjoying an espresso,” reported USA Today in November 2006. Research suggested the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day could be enough to ward off the degenerative diseases, which, at the time, affected about 6 million people in the United States.
Source: USA Today
Reference: Guides to Caffeine and Coffee
MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, has a guide to caffeine on their Web site, which includes the basics on caffeine as well as the latest in caffeine news.
Source: MedlinePlus
The Mayo Clinic provides a common sense guide called “Caffeine: How much is too much?” that offers suggestions on when to cut caffeine use, and helpful ways to curb consumption.
Source: The Mayo Clinic
For coffee fans, findingDulcinea provides a Web guide to coffee, covering coffee history, how to grow, roast and brew coffee, and where to buy coffee online.
Source: findingDulcinea
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