Posted on 04/03/2008 3:57:52 AM PDT by Schnucki
Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.
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.
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.
'Safe drug'
"Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky," said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.
"High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.
"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."
A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Disease Society said that the study shed "important light" on why previous research had showed benefits for drinking coffee.
"This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol.
"In addition to its effect on the vascular system, elevated cholesterol levels also cause problems with the blood brain barrier.
"This barrier, which protects the brain from toxins and infections, is less efficient prior to brain damage caused by Alzheimer's disease or strokes."
She called for more research into whether the same effect could be seen in humans.
Excellent! I feel healthier already.
Instead of Ritalin, many kids could probably be helped more with a cup of coffee in the mornings. It seems in some that that the caffine has an opposite effect in calming them so they can concentrate and learn.
Hmmm. I have my coffee with a slug of half-and-half every morning. Do they cancel each other out?
Ditto.
Isn’t caffeine a stimulant? I wouldn’t have thought giving hyperactive kids a stimulant would be a good idea.
Who cares?
I've always been criticized by the black coffee drinkers for my light w/sugar coffee habit ... and I get my milk from the local dairy farm ... in the morning after getting re-filled, the cream has risen to the top ... nuthin' nicer than THAT hot, coffee milk shake ... mmmm.
A small amount could have a homeopathic effect.
I just followed this advice, lost 80lbs and feel much better: The more natural, raw and un-refined a food is, the healthier it is for you. And the more variety, the better.
Additionally, if you eat all natural unprocessed foods I don't think it's possible to get obese. Foods in nature simply don't have the calorie density of processed foods.
Red meats are probably the most ‘dense’ foods that exist in nature and the fattiest ones are 2-3 calories/gram. Lean red meat is 1-2 and white meat can be less than 1. Fruits, potatoes and veggies are all around 0-0.5.
Processed sweets, condiments and fried foods can easily exceed 5-6 cals/gram. People were never meant to eat food this dense in virtually unlimited amounts.
Coffee can be natural and unprocessed(just roasted) so it should be good.
Okay, what I want to know is will chocolate provide the same benefit???
A few moments of paradise!
I know this to be true, my youngest boy had problems with paying attention in school because of hyperactivity, of course, the school recommended he be put on Ritalin.
I told them I wasn’t about to start pumping him with drugs and started to give him coffee before he went to school...problem solved without turning him into a zombie.
Hmm, maybe the HMOs will pay for coffee!
Ritilin and other drugs for ADHD are stimulants. They somehow provides an opposite effect.
ping.....I’ll start a pot right away.
I wouldn’t have thought giving hyperactive kids a stimulant would be a good idea
Most don’t understand true A.D.D. which comes from an inability to concentrate. When the nervous system is stimulated they can concentrate on the things they need to instead of having their attention bounce from one thing to the next, causing them to be disruptive and make poor grades.
Sheesh, my brain ought to be in mint condition then... I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 2. Thanks grandma!
It also protects others - once I’ve had a cuppa I’m less likely to strangle the idiots I encounter daily.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.