Your daily latte could protect your brain

by amyjudd | April 3, 2008 at 07:31 am

1239 views | 14 Recommendations | 15 comments

Any excuse to have that extra cup of coffee in the morning is good news for me.
Recent research suggests that coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body.

The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why.

A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.

UK experts said it was the "best evidence yet" of coffee's benefits.

Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders
Dr Jonathan Geiger
University of North Dakota

The "blood brain barrier" is a filter which protects the central nervous system from potentially harmful chemicals carried around in the rest of the bloodstream.

Other studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol in the blood can make this barrier "leaky".

Alzheimer's researchers suggest this makes the brain vulnerable to damage which can trigger or contribute to the condition.

The University of North Dakota study used the equivalent to just one daily cup of coffee in their experiments on rabbits.

After 12 weeks of a high-cholesterol diet, the blood brain barrier in those given caffeine was far more intact than in those given no caffeine.

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jordan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:23 on April 3rd, 2008

At what point would it become harmful? (Too much of a good thing)

Ms. Stef

at 08:28 on April 3rd, 2008

This coffee cup belongs to my sister and I was drinking from it while visiting. I liked the play on the "Got milk?" ads, so I took a picture of the cup. It's the wallpaper on my cell phone now.

Ms. Stef has contributed a photo to this story.

_MichaelK_

at 09:05 on April 3rd, 2008

I took this shot as part of a 365day challenge group called Flickr Group Roulette, where someone chooses a group each day and we make our photos match the subject of that group. This day's group was coffee and this is Roast Vanilla Nut Decaf made in my French Press.

_MichaelK_ has contributed a photo to this story.

queenvannacreations

at 10:52 on April 3rd, 2008

i am the mother of a 3 year old and a 19 month old. i stay home during the day, i work in the evening and run my own internet business in the spare seconds. i am very busy, i don't sleep as much as i should. caffeine keeps me from losing my mind.

queenvanna creations has contributed a photo to this story.

rockronie

at 12:13 on April 3rd, 2008

I was just using that espresso from Starbucks to work on my "Wreck this Journal" project.

rockronie has contributed a photo to this story.

PEP

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:21 on April 3rd, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

prevajanje

at 12:51 on April 3rd, 2008

well, nice to know that not every addiction is bad for your health.

Billie K67

at 12:52 on April 3rd, 2008

that's about the most standard diner-type coffee cup there is, and it was being used at a pretty standard-type diner in northern Michigan. One of the first shots I took with a new camera - I've always liked it and think it would look great printed on a coffee mug.

Billie K67 has contributed a photo to this story.