Caffeine may reverse Alheimer

The evidence regarding the positive effect of caffeine consumption in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease continues to mount with more studies lending support. Most people are well aware of the stimulating effect that comes with the consumption of caffeine. In fact, with an estimated 80 percent of the population consuming caffeine on a daily basis, it is considered the most commonly used psychoactive drug worldwide.Americans consume an estimated 280 milligrams (mg) daily, although 20 to 30 percent of them consume over 600 mg per day. The consumption of 130 to 300 mg daily is considered a low to moderate intake, while consuming 6,000 mg per day is considered to be heavy intake.Recently, University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center found that a daily intake of 500 mg reversed memory problems in mice bred to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms. This amount of caffeine is equivalent to the amount contained in five 8-ounce cups of coffee. The researchers noted that after two months on the daily dose of the stimulant, the memory of the mice recovered to the extent of attaining a score on memory tests equivalent to that of normal mice never having shown signs of dementia. The results of the research team’s studies were published in the July 5th online edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.The studies also revealed that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the beta amyloid, a protein linked to the characteristic plaque found with Alzheimer's, in both the brains and the blood of the mice exhibiting symptoms of the disease. The studies support previous research by the Florida researchers that indicated the consumption of caffeine in early adulthood prevented the onset of memory problems in the mice bred to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. The researchers had also previously shown that caffeine reduced beta amyloid levels in elderly people without dementia as quickly as it had in the mice bred to experience Alzheimer's symptoms.In a news release, lead author Gary Arendash, a University of South Florida neuroscientist, said “The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy.” He went on to explain, “That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process.”In further experiments, the researchers discovered that caffeine did nothing to improve the memory of normal mice. According to Arendash, “This suggests that caffeine will not increase memory performance above normal levels. Rather, it appears to benefit those destined to develop Alzheimer's disease.”Arendash noted that for most individuals, a moderate level of caffeine intake at 500 mg daily would pose no adverse health effects, according to both the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences. However, he pointed out that individuals with high blood pressure or those who are pregnant should limit their daily caffeine intake. He also acknowledged that if larger, more rigorous clinical studies confirm that caffeine prevents Alzheimer's in humans, as it does in mice, that the benefit would be substantial.Caffeine is completely absorbed by the body within 30 to 45 minutes of its consumption, and its effects are largely diminished within three hours. Since it is eventually excreted, there is no accumulation in the body. Caffeine affects mood, stamina, and the cerebral vascular system, as well as gastric and colonic activity. The most common sources of caffeine in the human diet are coffee, tealeaves, cocoa beans, cola, and energy drinks. In addition, it can be produced synthetically and added to food, beverages, supplements, and medications.Study investigator Huntington Potter, director of the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, said in the news release that the research team hopes to begin human trials to evaluate whether caffeine can benefit people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease.