How is coffee healthy for Alzheimer's?

Is Coffee Healthy for Seniors? Can Coffee Help to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease? Studies Say Yes!

Have you ever wondered, is coffee healthy? Well, that will depend on what you are drinking coffee for, how much, and other factors. For instance, coffee is a very healthy beverage choice when you are substituting it for something like sugary soda or energy drinks. Additionally, if you are on a diet, coffee can be a healthy way to keep your energy up without consuming extra calories. 

However, coffee has health benefits that extend beyond regular dietary matters. For example, did you know that coffee may help with Alzheimer's? Here, we'll walk you through what you need to know! 

Is Coffee Healthy for Those Looking to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease?

If you are working to improve your odds of fighting cognitive decline, drinking coffee may be a good idea. According to coffeeandhealth.org, many studies suggest that regular coffee consumption actually reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This is particularly true in age groups ranging from 45 to 75. Several reviews, case studies, and trials have been done to prove this view. 

Observed results of studies linking coffee and reduced Alzheimer's risks suggest that increasing your coffee intake to one or two cups a day could potentially reduce your chances of experiencing cognitive decline. 

In fact, according to recent research, drinking coffee in healthy amounts can reduce cognitive decline by up to 8% after 18 months. There may also be a 5% decrease in your cerebral beta-amyloid accumulation in a year and a half period.

How & Why is Coffee Healthy for the Brain? 

So how does this work and what does it mean in layman’s terms? Well, caffeine is known for having short-term stimulating effects on your central nervous system. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease have been rapidly increasing over the last decade. As such, many scientists have been studying the effects of a range of substances and how they impact the brain and central nervous systems.

When the effects of coffee on the brain were studied, there were very positive results indicating that it may slow cognitive decline. This means that if you drink a healthy amount of coffee (less than 60 ounces) a day, you could delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. 

How Coffee Delays the Onset of Alzheimer’s 

Coffee can delay the onset of Alzheimer's in most people, including seniors who already have some form of cognitive mental decline. Research shows that caffeine from coffee can work to block inflammation in the body, including any inflammation occurring in the brain.

Specifically, the caffeine from coffee can help reduce inflammation in human adenosine receptors. Adenosine receptor inflammation can start a chain reaction that begins the process of cognitive decline. By reducing this inflammation, cognitive decline is slowed. 

Coffee can have such a positive impact on brain inflammation that adults over the age of 65 with higher levels of caffeine in their blood were able to delay or entirely avoid the progression of Alzheimer's disease. One study showed that older adults with mild memory impairment who drank moderate levels of coffee (about 3 cups a day) successfully halted the progression of Alzheimer's disease. 

Coffee Can Positively Impact Key Proteins in the Brain

Another type of protein known as the tau protein is very closely linked with early-onset Alzheimer's. A buildup of this protein is present in brain scans of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is thought that tau protein buildup can kill brain cells and increase cognitive decline. 

Apparently, coffee can have a positive effect on reducing the buildup of tau protein. The caffeine in coffee works as an adenosine receptor antagonist. This means that it blocked some of these receptors effectively preventing the entanglement of tau proteins. 

Coffee Can Boost Brain Function and Improve Your Memory 

A University of California study indicated that adults who consumed caffeine before taking a memory test could achieve greater scores reliably. After consuming caffeine, the participants were asked to look at images. One day later, they were asked to return and identify the images that they had seen. 

Researchers found that participants who had consumed caffeine before the test reliably identified more images from memory accurately. A test was also done with participants who had not been given caffeine. The participants who had not consumed caffeine had a harder time recalling the images that they had been shown. 

Coffee May Also Help Protect You Against Type 2 Diabetes 

Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's are closely linked. Even decaffeinated coffee can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Drinking at least one cup of decaffeinated coffee a day led to a 6% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for study participants. 

Since 70% of people who suffer from type 2 diabetes later develop Alzheimer's disease, this is good news. Drinking caffeinated coffee created a 9% reduction in type 2 diabetes risk for study participants. 

Why Is Coffee Healthy for Alzheimer's Prevention: The Takeaway

Whether you will develop Alzheimer's or dementia depends on many factors. Health, genetics, lifestyle behaviors, and other important circumstances can impact whether you will develop Alzheimer's later in life. Still, many studies suggest that drinking coffee has been reliably shown to decrease your likelihood of developing this cognitive disease. This is encouraging news for anyone seeking holistic ways to prevent Alzheimer's!

Not only is coffee good for your mind when consumed in healthy amounts, but for many of us, it tastes great as well! At OneGreatCoffee, we believe that high-quality, delicious coffee is one of the greatest joys in life.

You can sample your favorite brews from our vast gourmet coffee selection by following this link. You can also join our coffee club and access member rewards to save money as you enjoy some of the best coffee around! With fast shipping and reliable service, you can't go wrong.