New studies are finding that coffee is beneficial in reducing the incidence of Dementia and Alzheimer’s as well as improving the symptoms of the disease once in progress.

According to Wikipedia, “Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging.” Alzheimer’s is described by the National Institute on Aging as follows: “The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they still do not know what causes AD, and there is no cure.”

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation in an article entitled, “Caffeine blocks disruption of blood brain barrier in a rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease.” The article states that “Chronic ingestion of caffeine protects against high cholesterol diet-induced increases in disruptions of the BBB, and caffeine and drugs similar to caffeine might be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.”

Over time, the pendulum swings both ways on coffee. It was just a short while ago where coffee was cited as a cause of miscarriage, high blood pressure and numerous other ailments. While this study does not exonerate coffee’s role in these disorders, it certainly gives coffee lovers a reason to continue enjoying their daily dose without guilt.

Even in the absence of any scientific studies, it is clear to most who indulge that coffee removes the cobwebs from the brain in the morning or any time of day. However, all bets are off when it comes to the benefits that coffee can offer when your cup tally tips the scales from moderation and begins to border on abuse. Anywhere from two to four cups is considered moderate, with emphasis on the lower end of the range.

Wikipedia-Dementia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Disease
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm

Journal of Neuroinflammation-Full article- “Caffeine blocks disruption of blood brain barrier in a rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease”
http://www.jneuroinflammation.com/content/5/1/12/abstract