top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Coffee may help stop Alzheimer’s

Scientists in Lille discover that the equivalent of two cups of coffee a day could help protect against brain disease

TWO CUPS of coffee a day could help protect people against Alzheimer’s, scientists in Lille have said - and, for the first time, they have suggested how.

Researchers at National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and Alzheimer’s laboratory Tauopathies in the city discovered that caffeine prevents the growth of the brain cell-clogging protein tau, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, in mice.

The doses of caffeine used in the study are the equivalent of about two or three cups of coffee per day, the study in the American medical journal Neurobiology of Aging said.

Previous research has found that older people are less likely to suffer cognitive decline if they take regular, moderate amounts of caffeine.

Experiments have also found that caffeine slows memory loss in mice bred to develop so-called amyloid plaques — another compound buildup in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's.

This is not the first time coffee’s benefits on the brain have been acknowledged.

“For many years we have known that moderate coffee consumption has beneficial effects, including cutting the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease,” Inserm scientist David Blum said.

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Featured Help Guide
- Primarily aimed at Britons, covers pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest - but also contains significant general information pertinent to readers of other nationalities - Overview of online declarations + step-by-step guide to the French printed forms - Includes updates given automatically after this year's site opened
Get news, views and information from France