A cup of coffee a day keeps dementia away? Research conducted by a U.S. team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation at the University of North Dakota suggests that coffee may block the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body and brain.
Scientists studied rabbits being fed a high-fat, high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks. Some of the subjects were given caffeine supplements, and others were not. In those given the caffeine supplement, the “blood brain barrier” between the main blood supply and the brain of the rabbits was protected.
This barrier prevents chemicals carried in the bloodstream from entering the central nervous system and potentially harming it. Prior studies showed that cholesterol in high levels in the blood stream can cause this barrier to deteriorate or “leak”.
Previous Alzheimer’s research supports this theory and suggests that the “leaks” in the barrier can make the brain susceptible to damage which can contribute to Alzheimer’s.
During the study, some of the rabbits were given a caffeine supplement equivalent to one cup of coffee daily. At the conclusion of the study, the “blood brain barrier” in the rabbits with no caffeine had weathered much more severe damage than those who had caffeine in their diet.
Dr. Jonathan Geiger, the study leader, said, “Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky.” He went on to explain that high cholesterol can increase the risk for Alzheimer’s due to the fact that it compromises the strength of the barrier. According to Geiger, “Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilize the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders.”
The Alzheimer’s Disease Society as well as UK experts deem this as important evidence of the benefits of coffee. The spokeswoman for the Society said, “This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol. In addition to its effect on the vascular system, elevated cholesterol levels also cause problems with the blood brain barrier.” Prior to brain damage caused by strokes or Ahzheimer’s, the barrier is less efficient.
More research is necessary to determine the true effect of caffeine in humans.
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