Posted on 01/16/2009 9:46:11 AM PST by Schnucki
STOCKHOLM — Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a study by Finnish and Swedish researchers showed Thursday.
"Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life," said lead researcher on the project, Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The study, which was also conducted in cooperation with the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki and which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease this month, was based on repeated interviews with 1,409 people in Finland over more than two decades.
They were first asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s and their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.
A total of 61 people had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had Alzheimer's, the researchers said.
"There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer's (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time," Kivipelto told AFP.
She said it remained unclear exactly how moderate coffee drinking helped delay or avoid the onset of dementia, but pointed out that coffee contains strong antioxidants, which are known to counter Alzheimer's.
Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nerve system, which can also protect against dementia, she said, pointing out that yet other studies show that coffee protects against diabetes, which in turn is known to be linked to Alzheimer's.
"Going forward, researchers should try to
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You're lucky.
I keep forgetting where I left my coffee cup.
Not really. According to an extensive study by WHO published in 1998, smoking actually reduces the risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and one other disease that I cannot remember at the moment.
I'm sure the information is listed in one of the links in here.
Sorry, I cannot access the info at this time.
They forgot everything except the grudges.
The Breakfast of ChampionsTM
Indeed. I have an Uncle who suffers from it. Although he's more or less healthy and blissfully happy, he doesn't even really know his own children.
It's tough on my cousin when she goes to visit.
I remember a study that said more than two cups of coffee a day will prevent gallstones. Has to be very freshly made though, like within 20 mins of brewing.
Grudges are an Irish thing? Explains a lot in my family.
I’ve been drinking coffee everyday since I was 5. My dad would make me a cup before school. He was an old rancher who never went anywhere without a thermos of joe. I pretty much drink a pot or two everyday. Like God intended.
I beat you by two years. I used to drink coffeemilk, (half coffee, half scalded whole milk) much like others would drink cocoa, at six years of age. My parents would also take me and my siblings to New Orleans Cafe du Monde where we would get the same thing in french, (cafe au lait) with beinets.
I started with milk and sugar, but we were camping one time and didn’t have any. I wasn’t sure I wanted to try coffee black, but my mom said to give it a try. She told me once you learned to like it black you wouldn’t want cream or sugar anymore. I was skeptical, but, well...mother knows best. I rarely add anything to my coffee (unless it’s a cup of inferior brew). I’ve become such a complete coffee snob that I started roasting my own at home about 5 or 6 years ago. That way I get the absolute freshest, top-grade coffee. I highly recommend home roasting if you are a coffee lover. It’s fun, and you get the best coffee you’ll likely ever taste.
How do you roast it at home? I’ve read of various methods from fancy roasters to oven roasting.
1. It rots my stomach.
2. I don't seem to get as much of a caffeine charge as many other people.
3. I really don't think it is a very good-tasting product.
I hope there are other ways of avoiding Alzheimer's.
If you would like to check it out, I would recommend sweetmarias.com as a starting point. There is an abundance of information there on not only various types of roasters but roasting terms, techniques, green coffee beans, etc. Their roasting and cupping notes on the different origins and varieties of beans are extensive and very helpful. You can buy green (unroasted) beans on many websites, but not all offer the same quality of coffee beans.
Thanks. Will check out that site.
Midlife Coffee and Tea Drinking and the Risk of Late-Life Dementia: A Population-Based CAIDE Study
Abstract: Caffeine stimulates central nervous system on a short term. However, the long-term impact of caffeine on cognition remains unclear. We aimed to study the association between coffee and/or tea consumption at midlife and dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in late-life. Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study were randomly selected from the survivors of a population-based cohorts previously surveyed within the North Karelia Project and the FINMONICA study in 1972, 1977, 1982 or 1987 (midlife visit). After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1409 individuals (71%) aged 65 to 79 completed the re-examination in 1998. A total of 61 cases were identified as demented (48 with AD). Coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk of dementia and AD later in life compared with those drinking no or only little coffee adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and vascular factors, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele and depressive symptoms. The lowest risk (65% decreased) was found in people who drank 3-5 cups per day. Tea drinking was relatively uncommon and was not associated with dementia/AD. Coffee drinking at midlife is associated with a decreased risk of dementia/AD later in life. This finding might open possibilities for prevention of dementia/AD.
FReepmail me if you want on or off the diabetes ping list.
FWIW, my caffienne avoiding (she's LDS) m-i-l has AD. Just anecdotal...but I know for myself, my second cup of coffee in the morning 'clears' the cobwebs to start the day...so maybe long term that 'clearing' helps (in addition to just being delish!!!)
Is it just the caffine in the coffee that they are talking about? If so what about an occasional no-doze tablet?
I meant to add to my last post, the thought that my ex sister in law could have prevented her present condition by drinking more coffee is pretty ridiculous.
Thanks for the ping.
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