The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee highlights the latest research on coffee and Alzheimer’s Disease to mark World Alzheimer’s Day

Moderate coffee consumption at 3-5 cups of coffee per day may help to protect against Alzheimer’s Disease, as highlighted by the Institute for Scientific Information’s latest report, published to mark World Alzheimer’s Day.

Worldwide, there are over 9.9 million new cases of dementia each year and an estimated 46.8 million people living with dementia in 20151. The number of people in Europe aged over 65 is predicted to rise to 22.4% by 20252 and, with an aging population, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease are of increasing concern.

ISIC’s report, The good things in life: can coffee consumption reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease? is in its second edition. First published in 2014 following a session at Alzheimer Europe’s annual congress, the newly updated report provides a comprehensive overview of the research into coffee, caffeine and Alzheimer’s Disease to date. Key research findings include:

• Scientific evidence has consistently linked regular, moderate coffee consumption with a possible reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease3,4.
• A Mediterranean diet, consisting of fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and red wine, has been associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease5,6,7. Research suggests that compounds called polyphenols are responsible for this protective effect, these compounds are also found in high quantities in coffee6
• Regular, life-long moderate coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, with the body of evidence suggesting that coffee drinkers can reduce their risk of developing the disease by up to 20%8
• A meta-analysis published in 2015 concluded that in the short-term, coffee/caffeine consumption may protect against Alzheimer’s, likely due to its stimulation of the central nervous system. The systematic review also showed a long-term favourable influence in decreasing new incidence Alzheimer’s Disease risk9
• Caffeine helps to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrulary tangles in the brain10 – two hallmarks of Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Caffeine and polyphenols reduce inflammation and decrease the deterioration of brain cells – especially in the hippocampus and cortex, areas of the brain involved in memory11,12,13,14

For more information on coffee and neurodegenerative diseases can be found here.