The potential benefits of coffee to be discussed at the Alzheimer Europe annual conference

To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), a not-for-profit organisation devoted to the study and disclosure of science related to coffee and health, is pleased to announce that it will sponsor a satellite symposium at this year’s Alzheimer Europe annual conference, taking place on 20-22 October in Glasgow, Scotland.

The relationship between nutrition and cognitive function, impairment and dementia has received much attention in the past decade and, to date, the body of evidence suggests that moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. An update of this research will be presented by experts working in this field at a satellite symposium during Alzheimer Europe annual conference.

The satellite symposium “Nutrition and cognitive function” will take place on Wednesday, 22 October at 13:00 and forms the foundation of ISIC’s sponsorship.  Chaired by Dr. Iva Holmerova, vice president of Alzheimer Europe, three expert speakers will explore the role nutrition can play in the risk reduction of Alzheimer’s Disease, with a particular focus on coffee consumption. This will be followed by a panel discussion and an open debate.  Speakers include:

• Professor Neville Vassallo, a senior lecturer at University of Malta, who will explore the role nutrition can play in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Professor Arfan Ikram, a professor of epidemiology at Erasmus MC, The Netherlands, who will review the epidemiological evidence for the relationship between coffee consumption and Alzheimer’s Disease. Professor Ikram is leading a four year research project, funded by ISIC, exploring the role of coffee consumption in reducing the risk of dementia development.
• Professor Astrid Nehlig, a research director from the French National Medical Research Institute (INSERM), who will explain the potential underlying mechanisms that govern the relationship between coffee consumption and cognitive decline.

“We’re very pleased to have ISIC as a gold sponsor this year and I am personally looking forward to chairing the symposium.” commented Dr. Iva Holmerova. She continued “The role of nutrition is an emerging area in Alzheimer’s research and the potential benefits of drinking coffee, on both a nutritional and a social level, are very interesting”.

There is increasing scientific evidence that links regular, moderate coffee consumption with a reduced risk of developing dementia. The sponsorship of Alzheimer Europe is aligned to ISIC’s core value of disseminating balanced research into coffee and health, and is an opportunity to increase awareness amongst academics, healthcare professions and carers working in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease, to help them educate the public on the scientific evidence available on coffee.

For more information on coffee, caffeine and Alzheimer’s Disease, please click here.