Coffee can help prevent the development of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. According to Swiss scientists, regular consumption of coffee can not only improve memory but also reduce the risk of dementia – even in people with common heart problems such as irregular heartbeat or atrial fibrillation. These people are more susceptible to developing dementia.
Researchers from the Basel University Hospital studied 2,413 people over the age of 65 who suffered from atrial fibrillation, a condition associated with a higher risk of stroke and vascular dementia. These participants underwent cognitive tests and blood tests for inflammatory markers often associated with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
People who drank five cups of coffee a day scored twice as well in cognitive tests than those who indulged in just one cup. In addition, they had lower levels of the inflammatory protein interleukin-6, which is associated with inflammation in the body.
Although the results sound promising, experts warn that the link between drinking coffee and reducing the risk of dementia has so far been shown in mice rather than in humans. However, neurologists involved in the treatment and prevention of dementia agree that coffee may have some protective effects on the brain. Drinking two to five cups a day can have positive effects not only on a person’s mind, but also on their heart.
