Caffeine may be the cure, a recent study found
Alyssa Ryerson
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Features
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According to recent research, stained teeth and stunted growth may be worth it when it comes to consuming a beverage that is in fact quite good for people's health.
A new study, conducted by a team of American researchers for The Journal of Neuroinflammation has just uncovered evidence that consuming caffeine equal to one cup of coffee a day may be a large step toward protecting the brain from the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Inside the body, there is a barrier between the brain and the body's main blood supply that protects the brain from potentially harmful chemicals.
These chemicals are harmless when traveling through the most of the bloodstream, but can lead to neural heath problems when they come into contact with the brain. When blood contains high levels of cholesterol, which is a health concern for millions of people worldwide, the vital barrier protecting the brain can become "leaky." The research team completed a study in which rabbits were fed high-cholesterol diets, some of which were given caffeine. After 12 weeks, the rabbits that were given caffeine had blood brain barriers that were much more intact than those that had not been given caffeine.
"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," said Jonathan Geiger, the researcher who led this study.
According to a spokesman for Alzheimer's Disease Society, "This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol.
This barrier, which protects the brain from toxins and infections, is less efficient prior to brain damage cause by Alzheimer's disease or strokes."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Cynthia
posted 4/09/08 @ 3:54 PM EST
I'm not sure how much reliability a lab test using rabbits has, when comparing rabbits' digestive systems to humans' systems. After all, the vegetarian digestive system of rabbits is very different from that of humans. (Continued…)
Axxel Knutson
posted 4/09/08 @ 4:47 PM EST
Well, I can tell you this: I had Alzheimers and then I started hanging out at Starbucks [I could not recall where I lived] but after just 100 Cafe Lates, I was a new man, recalled where my house was [still forgot the town] and was able to start up my Hummer, no sweat. (Continued…)
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