Caffeine may Help Ward off Alzheimer's Disease

There's certainly nothing like a fresh cup of coffee to start off your day, and thanks to scientific studies, there are some added health benefits to beginning your morning with this breakfast beverage. Previous findings show that not only does coffee give you some much needed pep, but it also may help prevent diabetes and lower the risk of liver disease in some individuals. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Bonn and the University of Lillie brings more good news; Coffee may also reduce the risk for Alzheimer's disease.

For the study, researchers evaluated the effects of regular caffeine intake in mice bred to develop tau deposits, along with beta-amyloid plaques that are typically seen in Alzheimer's disease. As these proteins can disrupt the communication of the nerve cells in the brain that contribute to cognitive degeneration, study authors Dr. Christa E. Muller of the University of Bonn and Dr. David Blum of the University of Lille were able to demonstrate how caffeine has a positive effect on these deposits.

In fact, findings showed that the tau mice who regularly consumed caffeine did not develop memory impairments that were seen in the controls.

"Improved memory was associated with reduced hippocampal tau phosphorylation and proteolytic fragments," the team notes, via Medical News Today.

Study results also showed that mice who consumed coffee displayed positive effects on spatial memory and in particular areas of the hippocampus, the site of memory for rodents.

"We have taken a good step forward," said Müller, via biosciencetechnology.com. "The results of the study are truly promising, since we were able to show for the first time that A2A adenosine receptor antagonists actually have very positive effects in an animal model simulating hallmark characteristics and progression of the disease. And the adverse effects are minor."

However, caffeine is certainly not without its harsher side. Besides giving you the jitters, excessive consumption of coffee (more than six cups a day) can cause extreme anxiety or agitation, along with insomnia and/or restlessness. In some cases, excess coffee has also increased the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Neurobiology of Aging.