A cup of coffee a day really can stave off Alzheimer’s disease, say scientists.
But having two or more cups or never touching the brew puts you at risk of the condition that causes early memory problems that sometimes lead to Alzheimer’s.
Researchers found moderate levels of caffeine protected the brain against rogue proteins that destroy neurons leading to memory loss.
Research Scientists have found a cup of coffee a day can keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay. Moderate levels of caffeine protected the brain against rogue proteins that destroy neurons leading to memory loss
A study of almost 1,500 Italians found moderate consumers of the world’s most popular beverage were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – commonly the first sign of dementia.
The findings add to evidence that the right amount of caffeine – a stimulant known to sharpen alertness and boost the brain – protects against mental decline in older age.
Mentally healthy individuals who regularly drank one or two cups of coffee a day had a reduced rate of MCI than those who never or rarely consumed it.
No significant association was detected between those who habitually had more than two cups and the incidence of MCI in comparison with those who never or rarely indulged.
The study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease also showed that increasing the amount of coffee consumption over time by more than one cup doubled the rate of MCI compared to those who reduced it by a cup.
The rate of MCI was also about one-and-a-half times higher than those with a constant habit of one cup-a-day.
Help: Italian researchers found older people who never or rarely consume coffee, and those who increase the amount of coffee they have, have a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (file image)
Dr Vincenzo Solfrizzi and Dr Francesco Panza, of Bari Aldo Moro University in Italy, said: ‘These findings from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing suggested cognitively normal older individuals who never or rarely consumed coffee and those who increased their coffee consumption habits had a higher risk of developing MCI.
‘Therefore, moderate and regular coffee consumption may have neuroprotective effects also against MCI confirming previous studies on the long-term protective effects of coffee, tea or caffeine consumption and plasma levels of caffeine against cognitive decline and dementia.
The researchers looked at the coffee drinking habits of 1,445 individuals recruited from 5,632 subjects aged 65 to 84 year from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ILSA) who were followed up for an average of three-and-a-half years.
They said there is no drug to stop MCI so the identification and subsequent management of risk and protective factors is crucial.
Previous research has also suggested coffee, tea or caffeine consumption could prevent mental decline and dementia which affects 850,000 people in the UK alone.
Dr Solfrizzi and Dr Panza say caffeine could limit damage caused by rogue proteins in the brain that destroy neurons.
Source:Mail Online
