Researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center have conducted experiments which show that caffeine could be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease. An elderly Palestinian pours coffee near Jenin
© AFP Saif DahlahJuly 07, 2009, (Sawf News) - Researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center have conducted experiments which show that caffeine could be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
For the experiments, 55 aged mice were genetically altered to develop symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and given caffeine – the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day (500 mg of caffeine) – and it was observed that their memory impairment was reversed over a period of 2 months. In fact, their memories were identical to normal aged mice without dementia!
The study showed that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer's disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice exhibiting symptoms of the disease.
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "In this study on mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's, researchers found that caffeine boosted their memory.
US neuroscientist Dr Gary Arendash, who led the research, said: "The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy.
"The researchers do not know if an amount lower than the 500 mg. daily caffeine intake received by the Alzheimer's mice would be effective."
Arendash, however, cautioned that individuals with high blood pressure or those who are pregnant should limit their daily caffeine intake.
Study is still going on to determine if the changes are permanent or not but as Rebecca Wood says, "With no cure yet, research into treatments that could help people with Alzheimer's is vital."
These studies are also very encouraging because caffeine is a safe drug for most people, it easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process.
Based on the promising findings in mice, researchers at the Florida ADRC and Byrd Alzheimer's Center at USF hope to begin human trials to evaluate whether caffeine can benefit people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease, said Huntington Potter, PhD, director of the Florida ADRC and an investigator for the caffeine studies.
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