Caffeine Benefits for Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's Disease Caffeine Benefits Real in Caffeine-Treated Mice
Jul 15, 2009
Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias affect some 30 million people in the world (Alzheimer's Disease International). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently afflicts 5.3 million Americans, and treatment of this disease, together with other dementias, triple healthcare costs for those age 65 and older (2009 Facts and Figures of Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Association).
Memory loss and failure to perform simple memory tasks are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Sticky, amyloid protein is present in the blood and the brain of AD patients. This protein blocks brain neuronal signals and causes dysfunctional thinking. The disease is devastating and eventually causes death.
Alzheimer's Disease and Caffeine Relationships
Alzheimer's patients and people without dementia were compared for dietary differences. Drs. Arendash, Cao, Potter and coinvestigators of the University of South Florida noted that Portuguese research found less caffeine consumption by Alzheimer’s patients compared to patients without dementia (based on the most recent, last 20 years of their lives). Other uncontrolled clinical studies have reported moderate caffeine consumption may protect against memory decline with age.
These findings prompted Drs. Arendash et al. to study the effects of caffeine consumption on special, transgenic, aged mice with Alzheimer's amyloid bodies.
Although mice and people are different, and animal experiments do not always mimic human experimental results, this study with mice indicates that ingestion of appropriate amounts of caffeine in water, coffee, tea may help reverse or slow Alzheimer's disease. (Caffeine Reverses Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Brain Amyloid-β Levels in Aged Alzheimer’s Disease Mice. Gary W Arendash, et al. (July 2009) Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Volume 17:3.)
Alzheimer's Patient Mice and Caffeine Experimental Results
This study involved normal mice, and transgenic, Alzheimer's mice. Mice were given either caffeine-supplemented water or plain water. Mice were tested for performance in a watered maze system that the mice navigated to reach a reward goal. Further, after maze tests were completed, both blood and brain tissues of all mice were examined.
The experiment was as follows:
- 55 mice were altered genetically to develop an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over time. When these mice showed signs of memory impairment at 18 to 19 months (equal to 70 human years), half the mice were given caffeinated drinking water. Control mice got plain water.
- Two months later, maze experiments showed that caffeinated AD mice performed almost equivalent to normal mice without brain disease. Control, uncaffeinated, AD mice performed poorly.
- Caffeinated Alzheimer's mice also had significant reductions of harmful blood and brain amyloid protein. This result showed suppression and reduction of up to 50% of the amyloid protein.
- Caffeine affected two enzymes needed to produce beta amyloid protein. Each enzyme activity decreased.
- Control normal mice, whether caffeine-treated or not, performed equally well to each other, and showed no evidence of AD or amyloid protein.
(Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-β Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimer’s Disease Transgenic Mice. Chuanhai Cao, et al. (July 2009). Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Volume 17:3)
Alzheimer's Disease and Caffeine, Concluding and Summary Ideas
Here are points to remember. Caffeine
- may be a useful ‘treatment’ for active Alzheimer’s disease.
- seems to suppress inflammatory changes in the brain that lead to an overabundance of beta amyloid.
- may protect against amyloid protein synthesis and accumulation.
- is inexpensive and safe to ingest for most people, except for those with high blood pressure or who are pregnant.
- moves from the digestive tract to the brain quickly.
- will be studied soon in controlled human experiments to compare results with these mice studies. Preliminary studies in humans without dementia shows reductions in amyloid protein.
- consumption of 500 mg/day should work in humans. Based upon standard beverage amounts and strengths this is equivalent to about 5 cups of coffee a day. This moderate level of caffeine intake poses no adverse health effects, according to both the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences. Individuals with high blood pressure, or who are pregnant, should limit caffeine intake.
Read more about the amazing natural biochemical caffeine.
Resources
Alzheimer's Disease International
Alzheimer's Association of America
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