Caffeine Saves the Brain

April 3rd, 2008
Caffeine saves the brain!

While perusing Slashdot today I came upon an article that has much meaning to my life: Daily caffeine 'protects brain'. It describes how your daily cup of coffee can be more beneficial to your health than you think.

According to the article, caffeine can "block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky". The "blood-brain barrier" is a sort of filter that protects your nervous system from being subjected to toxins carried around in your blood stream.

The reason why this news is lightening to me is the fact that leakage in the blood-brain barrier can cause Alzheimer's and Dementia. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's runs in my family and having had experience with a loved one who suffered from it (my Oma) it really scares the crap out of me.

It really tore my family apart when we went to visit her and, sadly, the only reason I think we stayed sane about the situation was because we didn't leave near enough to see her often. :( She passed away from the disease just a few years ago.

...caffeine intake protects against memory loss in aging and in Alzheimer's...

Match It For Pratchett

Hurrah, I say! Because the memory loss aspect of Alzheimer's is what scares me the most. I remember visiting Oma once when she received a phone call from my aunt. She smiled and was very cheery and remembered her daughter.

But then I heard her say: "Yes, there is a nice lady and some kids here to see me. I don't know why though." It broke my heart. Thankfully, my mother didn't hear her say that.

But aside from that stuff, I think it's interesting that caffeine has that sort of benefit. Not saying that we should gorge ourselves on chocolate and Mountain Dew (although that sounds quite lovely at the moment) but caffeine taken in moderation could at least help us remember where we put the car keys or the remote in our later years. :P

Comments

This is an old post, so both comments and trackbacks are currently closed. If you wish to leave a response, please contact me.

Rose Apr 03, 2008

Yikes. Yeah, Alzheimer’s is not my choice illness. I’m a little bit scared of getting it as well, although no one in my family has it :/

Neither is HIV, Mad Cow Disease, Ebola, umm… Probably a bunch of other scary illnesses that I hope to never get.

I’m going to be picky about how I die. Death by piano or no death at all!

Barbilee Apr 03, 2008

my momm uses to uses tea for my add/adhd and it doses not wind you up well me alset liek i does to someone that soes nto have add/adhd it clambed me down redbull helps me too :)

on now i got in to plaing the sims 2 agen hehehe

Jessica Apr 03, 2008

Caffeine is a great live saver for those parents that have adhd kids. It works backwards & slows you down. The docs are not too happy about it but if you have an adhd kid you tend to know it works. :D I am so glad caffeine is good. We have so many diseases running through my blood line it’s great to know my addiction might just be helpful. And it helps with migraines sometimes.

Han Apr 03, 2008

“.caffeine intake protects against memory loss in aging” I need to get over my fear of coffee and start drinking it now! Is is the caffeine though? cos then I could just stick to the pints of tea!

I was reading the other day that Alzheimer’s and other related disorders research receive less than 5% of the funding that cancer research receives. I was watching a documentary on the treatment of the patients too. And some of the drugs specifically antipsycotics prescribed to patients suffering from dementia actually cause more damage than no medication at all. Sometimes even making the patient worse.

Nanda Apr 03, 2008

Ooh that’s great news! Thanks for sharing it, I didn’t know that! *runs off to tell her mum*

Cristina Apr 03, 2008

There’s no way you can get me away from caffeine. Besides, I consider myself a healthy user anyway, lol. I have to have my one cup at the beginning of the day and then I’m usually good. Sometimes I’ll need a little pick-me-up, like from a SoBe Green Tea.

Melissa Apr 04, 2008

Death by piano or no death at all!

LOL. Must go out with a bang, eh? XD

Caffeine is a great live saver for those parents that have adhd kids.

I heard about that! Interesting…

Is it the caffeine though? … Alzheimer’s and other related disorders research receive less than 5% of the funding that cancer research receives.

Yeah, it’s just the caffeine! A cup of coffee was for measurement. And it definitely is sad how low the funding is for Alzheimer’s. I would never downgrade the seriousness of cancer but Alzheimer’s has honestly got to be the one disesase that scares me the most.

Cristina Apr 04, 2008

Pssst! I love your new logo!

Melissa Apr 04, 2008

Thanks! :D I really love it too!

Christine Apr 04, 2008

I love love love coffee. I couldn’t go w/o it. Give it to me strong and black. yum!So I’m excited to hear there’s some good that may come from it!

ps. I’m w/ lovely Cristina on this whole loving your new logo. It’s hot.

Melissa Apr 04, 2008

Aw, thanks Christine!

Kelly Apr 04, 2008

+1 on the logo :)

Urgh - I’m terribly addicted to caffeine, but I cannot stand coffee or tea (I think it’s because tea is too weak, and I’ve only ever tried horrible instant coffee - I’ve been told proper coffee is much nicer): I am addicted to Coca Cola. Full sugar, full strength. Four of five cans of the stuff, with a couple of energy drinks keeps me going. Oh, to be a full time student with deadlines and a full time job (like that’s an excuse). :P