Coffee 'may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease'

Healthcare News
19/08/2008
Report examines claims that coffee may carry health benefits as well as unwanted effects.

It has been suggested that a couple of cups of coffee a day might reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other conditions.

Caffeine could offer some protection for the brain against the harmful effects of cholesterol, which is involved in the damage to brain cells that leads to Alzheimer's, according to the Independent.

It says that other research has suggested people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.

Furthermore, drinking the hot beverage may be linked to a lowered risk of type-two diabetes, it adds.

In addition, the newspaper cites a study from the John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, which found that a regular intake of coffee can increase an individual's sense of wellbeing, alertness and sociability.

However, the Independent does nevertheless point out that coffee is addictive and there is evidence which suggests that people can drink too much, leading to unwanted side effects such as anxiety, palpitations and diarrhoea.

Meanwhile, research carried out by scientists from the Stanford University School of Medicine, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, has suggested that older people who regularly exercise could experience a range of health benefits, including longer lifespans and lower levels of disability.

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