Don’t Forget the Coffee!
I never cease to be amazed by the interesting information I come across when I am doing research for my clients. For example recently I was reading some scientific literature on a brain injury claim I am working on when I came across an article about the correlation between caffeine consumption and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Coffee Drinking Mice Form Faster Memories?
A study conducted by professor Gregory Freund of the Illinois University looked at the effects of caffeine on the brain and how it appears to block the brain-based inflammation associated with the disease. The study was conducted on mice, with one group given caffeine and the other not.
The mice were put through a process where there was an interruption of their breathing and the blood flow to the brain. The study found that the caffeine-exposed mice were able to recover the ability to form a new memory 33 percent quicker than the non-caffeinated group.
It May Work for Mice…What About People?
In another study from earlier this year it was reported that older people who had higher blood caffeine levels tended to avoid the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
The lead author of the University of South Florida’s study, Chuanhai Cao, Ph.D., stated,:
“The results from this study, along with our earlier studies in Alzheimer’s mice, are very consistent in indicating that moderate daily caffeine/coffee intake throughout adulthood should appreciably protect against Alzheimer’s disease later in life.”
The study also noted that coffee was the main source of caffeine for most of the subjects.
Everything in Moderation
This isn’t an endorsement to start chugging 2 or 3 pots of coffee a day to increase your chances of warding off Alzheimer’s.
A cup of coffee every morning is sounding increasingly tempting. But remember that the key to health is moderation! While studies show that coffee in moderation can be good for your health there is also research that associates excessive caffeine consumption with other problems such as high blood pressure.
