Seems that caffeine has neuroprotective effects beyond just keeping the lights switched on upstairs:
Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.
The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why.
A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.
[…]
“Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky,” said Dr Jonathan Geiger, who led the study.“High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood brain barrier.
“Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug and its ability to stabilise the blood brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders.”
One response to “caffeine protects your brain”
I really like coffee, but you’ve got to be careful — espresso for example is HIGH in cholesterol. There’s plenty of other natural ways to control one’s cholesterol without the negative impacts of caffeine . A really good reference of these natural remedies can be found at the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau.