from Alzheimer Europe Annual Congress
Regular, life‐long moderate coffee
consumption is associated with a reduced risk
of Alzheimer’s disease, possibly as much as
twenty percent lower risk. Dutch researchers
presented their findings to the Alzheimer
Europe Annual Congress. Moderate coffee
consumption is defined as three to five cups
per day, and other studies have consistently
linked regular, moderate coffee consumption
with lower risk of Alzheimer’s. This study
looked at the compounds within coffee that
might be responsible for this beneficial
effect—key among them caffeine and
polyphenols. Caffeine helps prevent
formation of amyloid plaques and
neurofibrulary tangles in the brain that are
hallmarks of Alzheimer’s, while both caffeine
and polyphenols reduce inflammation and
decrease deterioration of brain cells,
especially in areas of the brain involved in
memory.