1, December 2014

Coffee cuts Alzheimer's risk by 20 per cent

Researchers have found that drinking up to five cups of coffee per day may help curb Alzheimer's risk by 20 percent. 

Caffeine in coffee helps prevent the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrulary tangles in the brain - two hallmarks of Alzheimer's, the findings showed. 

"The findings suggest that regular coffee consumption over a lifetime is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's, with an optimum protective effect occurring with three to five cups of coffee per day," said Arfram Ikram, assistant professor in neuroepidemiology at Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 

The researchers explored the compounds within coffee, which may be responsible for this protective effect and identified caffeine and polyphenols as key candidates. 

In addition to this, both caffeine and polyphenols reduce inflammation and decrease the deterioration of brain cells - especially in the hippocampus and cortex, areas of the brain involved in memory. 

Moderate coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia over a four year follow-up period, however the effect diminished over longer follow up period. 

The findings were recently presented at the 2014 Alzhemier Europe Annual Congress in Glasgow, Britain.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.12.2014

Sleep disturbances linked to Alzheimer's risk

Elderly men with self-reported sleep disturbances run a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than men without self-reported sleep disturbances, says a study.

"We demonstrate that men with self-reported sleep disturbances run a 1.5-fold higher risk to develop Alzheimer's disease than those without reports of sleep disturbances during a 40-year follow-up period," said lead researcher Christian Benedict from Uppsala University in Sweden.

"The later the self-reported sleep disturbance was found the higher the risk was for developing Alzheimer's disease," Benedict added.

The researchers followed more than 1,000 men, who were initially 50 year old, between the years 1970 and 2010.

The data suggest that a regular good night's sleep could support brain health in men.

"These findings suggest that strategies aimed at improving sleep quality in late life may help reduce the risk to develop Alzheimer's disease," Benedict pointed out.

The researchers also pointed out that several lifestyle factors, such as exercise, can influence the brain's health.

"Thus, it must be borne in mind that a multifaceted lifestyle approach comprising good sleep habits is essential for maintaining brain health as you age", Benedict stressed.

The results appeared in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

01.12.2014

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