One in 20 people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia that begins with mild memory loss, but degenerates to interfere with personal autonomy.
It is, in fact, the slow but progressive destruction of the cells that make up our brain.
It is a hereditary disease in only 1% of cases, while the risk factors are many, from having suffered a serious head injury after the age of 50 to diabetes, from exposure to toxic substances to hypercholesterolemia.
Recently, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) published a review of scientific evidence regarding coffee’s potential to reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
Various epidemiological studies seem to confirm that regular and moderate consumption (i.e. equal to 3-5 cups a day) of coffee can reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s by up to 27%.
The benefit comes from caffeine (each cup contains about 85mg) and the presence of numerous antioxidant substances, including polyphenols.
A cup of polyphenols
Polyphenols help maintain neuronal vitality, particularly in the area of the hippocampus (responsible for semantic memory and the transformation of short-term memory into long-term memory) and the cerebral cortex (where memory “resides” linked, among other things, to language and concentration).
These antioxidant substances also play an important role in reducing inflammation in the brain.
A polyphenol contained in coffee is ferulic acid, which is able to protect cognitive functions, especially those related to spatial memory.
Caffeine, on the other hand, promotes the maintenance of high levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting impulses between neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Coffee also contains quercetin (found in green tea and blueberries), a flavonoid currently being studied to test its role in protecting brain cells.
Be careful not to overdo it
But how to take advantage of the benefits of coffee? The recommendation is to start consuming 3-5 cups daily before the onset of any typical symptoms of dementia, such as memory deficits.
You should therefore start drinking coffee from adulthood, but not before; In fact, pediatricians advise against caffeine, which is also present in other drinks, before the age of 12.
It is obvious of course that the risks can outweigh the benefits if you “exceed” the recommended doses. To make their appearance may in fact be some side effects deriving in particular from excessive consumption of caffeine, such as tachycardia, nervousness and poor quality of sleep.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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