USF-led study links high caffeine levels in older adults to avoidance of Alzheimer’s disease
Tampa, FL (June 5, 2012) – Those cups of coffee that you drink every day to keep alert appear to have an extra perk – especially if you’re an older adult. A recent study monitoring the memory and thinking processes of people older than 65 found that all those with higher blood caffeine levels avoided the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in the two-to-four years of study follow-up. Moreover, coffee appeared to be the major or only source of caffeine for these individuals.
Researchers from the University of South Florida and the University of Miami say the case control study provides the first direct evidence that caffeine/coffee intake is associated with a reduced risk of dementia or delayed onset. Their findings appear in the online version of an article published June 5 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The collaborative study involved 124 people, ages 65 to 88, in Tampa and Miami.
