Coffee clue to Alzheimer's treatment

Monday July 6th, 2009

Five cups of coffee a day might have dramatic benefits for people with Alzheimer's disease, researchers reported yesterday.

A laboratory study suggests that caffeine may slow the progress of the disease.

The findings, reported in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, confirm studies of patients, suggesting that they may not tend to drink much coffee.

The study at the University of South Florida found that caffeine signficantly cut levels of the chemical linked to Alzheimer's disease, the protein beta amyloid.

So far laboratory research has been conducted on mice.

The study showed that mice given caffeine achieved memory and thinking skills of normal levels - despite having Alzheimer's. And levels of the beta amyloid protein halved.

Researcher Dr Huntington Potter said: "These are some of the most promising Alzheimer's mouse experiments ever done showing that caffeine rapidly reduces beta amyloid protein in the blood, an effect that is mirrored in the brain, and this reduction is linked to cognitive benefit.

"Our goal is to obtain the funding needed to translate the therapeutic discoveries in mice into well-designed clinical trials."

Researcher Dr Gary Arendash said: "This suggests that caffeine will not increase memory performance above normal levels. Rather, it appears to benefit those destined to develop Alzheimer's disease."

Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Volume 17:3 (July 2009).

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Geriatric Health | North America | Nutrition & Healthy Eating

Printer friendly page