WhoRUSupposed2Be Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I was not sure if whether to post this in the Coffee Thread. Since the article is scientifically based on caffeine-research, that it would do fine having it's own space. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Caffeine-may-reverse-Alzheimer-s-disease-Mouse-study?nocount Caffeine may reverse Alzheimer’s disease: Mouse study By Stephen Daniells, 07-Jul-2009 Related topics: Research, Phytochemicals, plant extracts, Cognitive and mental function Five cups of coffee’s worth of caffeine may reverse the impairment of memory associated with Alzheimer’s disease, suggest two new studies with mice. A dose of 500 milligrams of caffeine was found to reduce the amount of a protein called beta-amyloid in the brain of mice by about 40 per cent, according to studies from researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). The build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits is associated with an increase in brain cell damage and death from oxidative stress. This is related to a loss of cognitive function and an increased risk of Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 13 million people worldwide. The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100 bn (€81 bn) in the US, while direct costs in the UK are estimated at £15 bn (€22 bn). "These are some of the most promising Alzheimer's mouse experiments ever done showing that caffeine rapidly reduces beta amyloid protein in the blood, an effect that is mirrored in the brain, and this reduction is linked to cognitive benefit," said Huntington Potter, PhD, director of the Florida ADRC. "Our goal is to obtain the funding needed to translate the therapeutic discoveries in mice into well-designed clinical trials." Studies details According to the new data published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 55 mice genetically programmed to develop age-related memory problems mimicking Alzheimer's disease were given either caffeine in their drinking water or plain water. After two months of supplementation, the mice receiving the caffeine performed identically in tests of memory and reasoning to control mice aged normally and free of dementia. Furthermore, the caffeinated mice had nearly 50 per cent lower levels of beta amyloid. Additional experiments indicated that caffeine may restore memory by reducing both enzymes needed to produce beta amyloid. On the flip side, the Florida-based researchers did not observe any benefits in memory in non-demented (normal) mice when they were given caffeine from young adulthood through to old age. "This suggests that caffeine will not increase memory performance above normal levels. Rather, it appears to benefit those destined to develop Alzheimer's disease," said Gary Arendash, the lead author of one of the two studies. Human trials The Florida-based researchers are hoping to undertake human trials in order to test if caffeine can benefit people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease. Early results have reportedly shown that caffeine may affect blood levels of beta-amyloid in elderly non-demented humans, just as it did in the Alzheimer's mice. However, the researchers note: “Plasma beta-amyloid levels are not an accurate index of brain beta-amyloid levels/deposition or cognitive performance in aged AD mice”. A blend of the science Earlier this year, Scandinavian researchers reported that between three and five cups of coffee a day in middle age could decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 65 per cent. Data from participants of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study were published in Alzheimer’s Disease. The average worldwide daily coffee consumption is one and a half cups, while the US average is more than three and a half cups. [/Quote] I wonder at what age they are expecting humans to partake in this experiment... but five cups of a day?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwyl Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 5 cups isn't that much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PumpkinEscobar Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 5 cups isn't that much Thats about my average in a given day of work +/- 2 diet pepsi's hah Cool post though, I watched those HBO specials on Alzheimers that a pretty sad thing to see how that disease deteriorates someones brain. Nice to see some promising advances are being made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSkins561 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 My dad is in the advanced stages of Alzhiemers and asks the same question 50 times an hous when he is tired, he might easily triple that if he was jacked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisenberg Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 My dad is in the advanced stages of Alzhiemers and asks the same question 50 times an hous when he is tired, he might easily triple that if he was jacked up. Sorry to hear that GoSkins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsknbill Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 My dad is in the advanced stages of Alzhiemers and asks the same question 50 times an hous when he is tired, he might easily triple that if he was jacked up. Go, I am in the same boat. My Dad got diagnosed three years ago. As we speak, he is stuck in Denver, with my Mom, because their flight got canceled. My mom has her hands full Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I believe they had similar results with nicotine Either way I'm golden:silly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
China Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 OK, that's an animal study. We all know that results in animal studies don't always corresponde with results in humans. Can they do some kind of study where they determine whether Alzheimer's patients were regular coffee drinkers or something? It seems to me that if you have a regular caffeine habit (whether coffee or soda or something else), and you still get Alzheimer's, then perhaps the significance of this animal study would be muted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoSkins561 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Sorry to hear that GoSkins. Thanks JMU Unfortnately it's part of life, the good news is you can still see what a good heart the man has. Bill, your mom is probably going insane. I know when my parents fly my mom makes arrangements ahead of time such as escorts; early boarding etc. It's such a brutal disease to deal with as a a family, some times I feel like ringing his neck, imagine what your mom feels like doing after hanging with him 24 hours a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Coffee is not bad for you. More studies have been coming out lately confirming this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoRUSupposed2Be Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 OK, that's an animal study. We all know that results in animal studies don't always corresponde with results in humans.Can they do some kind of study where they determine whether Alzheimer's patients were regular coffee drinkers or something? It seems to me that if you have a regular caffeine habit (whether coffee or soda or something else), and you still get Alzheimer's, then perhaps the significance of this animal study would be muted. Oh I agree considering that a human's brain is more advanced than a mouse's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighOnHendrix Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 OK, that's an animal study. We all know that results in animal studies don't always corresponde with results in humans. I remember when I was a kid that a study came out that claimed saccharin caused cancer in lab rats. Problem was that they gave these rats such huge doses of the sweetener that it was not applicable to realistic human consumption - you'd have to drink several hundred servings everyday for decades to even get close to the equivalent of the rat doses. Also, I just read on wikipedia that rats metabolize sodium differently than humans and that several other sodium-bearing compounds can give them the same type tumors (bladder cancer) as saccharin. The mechanism appears to be due the way that rats metabolize sodium, and bladder cancer which cannot be replicated in other mammals has also been observed with rat consumption of other sodium salts such as sodium citrate and bicarbonate. I have always been skeptical of the results of studies involving rats/mice instead of humans or at least primates. Often there is an agenda behind the study and the methodology can be skewed for the purpose of achieving a desired result. That and the fact that whatever supposedly caused cancer a few years ago is now suddenly good for you - like every week or two these stories come out. The media/scientists have cried wolf so many times that I tend to just shut them out now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 So if a 1-pound mouse needs the equivalent of 5 cups of coffee to see this benefit, then a 200-pound man needs...a thousand???? Might help the disease, meanwhile, your heart is going to explode. My sympathies to those families dealing with this awful disease. It's right up there with cancer in terms of my hatred for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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