A new scientific study has revealed that consuming a moderate to large amount of caffeine daily may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The study, which was supervised by scientists from France and published in the scientific journal Science Alert, confirmed that caffeine reduces the levels of certain types of proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid associated with Alzheimer’s.
The researchers studied data from 263 people over the age of 70 who suffered from mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease between 2010 and 2015.
The team clinically evaluated the participants and conducted a detailed survey of their consumption of foods and drinks, such as coffee, chocolate, tea and soft drinks, to assess the amount of caffeine their bodies absorb each day, in addition to conducting magnetic resonance imaging scans of their brains, and collecting blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples.
The research team found that consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine (equivalent to one cup of coffee or tea) per day reduce
d the risk of cognitive decline and memory impairment, and reduced the levels of proteins associated with Alzheimer’s in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The study noted that “people who belong to the group that consumed very low amounts of caffeine were about 2.5 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment with memory impairment or Alzheimer’s disease, compared to those who consumed more than 200 milligrams per day.” A closer look at the proteins in the participants’ spinal fluid also revealed “significant differences in the proportions and concentrations of certain forms of beta-amyloid proteins, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, as those who drank lower amounts of caffeine had higher concentrations of these proteins compared to those who consumed medium and high amounts of caffeine.” The study warned against consuming caffeine late in the day, as this may affect sleep, which will also affect neurological performance in the long term. It also pointed out that consuming a lot of chocolate an
d energy drinks increases blood sugar levels, which also puts cognitive health at risk.
Source: Qatar News Agency