By David Bois – first published on tonic.com on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 12:54 PM ET
In addition to that morning kick, caffeine may offer us protective benefits against Alzheimer’s disease according to a new study conducted in Portugal.
As Tonic reported this week, an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis is made in America every 60 seconds. A cure that still eludes us (for not too much longer, we hope) and a population that is aging combine to compel us to remain vigilant and supportive of those who are afflicted and of others who care for them. In the meantime, fascinating bits of insight will arise that help us to better understand this cruel affliction, such as this one reported by Science Daily, which will make an appropriate companion read for that fresh cup of joe you just poured.
In a study of studies, researchers in Portugal have assembled and reviewed a collection of original experimental and epidemiological studies that explore the effects of caffeine on cognitive function and deterioration, and have found evidence that caffeine may slow the progress of the disease and may mitigate the erosion of cognitive function that AD can bring. The subsequent analysis, spearheaded by Alexandre de Mendonça from the University of Lisbon and Rodrigo A. Cunha from the University of Coimbra is available online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Among the primary findings that the ambitious research literature has uncovered are evidence for “multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration,” a discernible link between caffeine and improved thinking and memory, and evidence suggesting a protective effect against AD that caffeine may offer.
While the pair express caution by explaining the findings do not yet clearly point to immediate next steps for new testing and trials in human subjects, clearly something good is brewing with caffeine and the brain as it specifically relates to AD.