Coffee health benefits have long fascinated experts. As Alzheimer's disease grows more common in aging cultures, experts are investigating whether coffee, particularly espresso, might prevent the dreaded condition.
Researchers from the University of Verona in Italy linked coffee consumption to Alzheimer's disease prevention, according to a report from the National Post. Rogue tau protein tangles, which disrupt brain activity and are a leading cause of dementia, may be prevented by drinking espresso, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
The primary ingredients of espresso coffee were identified via in vitro and in vivo tests. They found that the biological characteristics of genistein, caffeine, and whole coffee extract may inhibit the aggregation, condensation, and seeding activity of the repeat region of tau.
The researchers discovered that the consumption of espresso considerably decreased the production of tau clumps or fibrils. In addition, as the concentration of espresso grew, the fibrils that did develop were shorter and less likely to unite into bigger sheets.
Read Also: Geneva Patient Achieves Long-Term HIV Remission
The researchers used shop-bought coffee beans and found that consuming coffee as a shot, latte, Americano, or espresso martini improved tau protein.
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy examined espresso shot chemicals, as per a report from Science Alert. Caffeine, trigonelline, genistein, and theobromine were the main compounds. Caffeine, genistein, and espresso extract added molecules to tau proteins, shortening tau fibrils.
More Research on the Health Benefits of Coffee Needed
Even though polyphenols in coffee may lessen the incidence of type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, researchers are interested in coffee's benefits to brain health. Dietary antioxidants may reduce cellular aging, which may affect Alzheimer's disease.
However, an expert advises against making firm assertions regarding coffee's capacity to stave off neurological conditions like Alzheimer's. Dr. Joel Salinas, an NYU Langone Health neurologist, urges more studies on the benefits and drawbacks of coffee, according to a report from Medical News Today.
The latest study's findings on coffee's anti-Alzheimer benefits, particularly espresso, are promising, but more research is needed to fully understand the effects of coffee, one of the most popular beverages in the world, on brain health.
Related Article: Long-term Study Links Unbalanced Proteins in Middle Age to Dementia
