Older news items (pre-2010) brought over from the old website
Caffeine reverses memory impairment in Alzheimer's mice
Consistent with earlier indications that moderate caffeine consumption may protect against memory decline, a study of genetically engineered mice has found that when the old mice began to show memory impairment, those given caffeine for 2 months performed as well as normal aged mice on cognitive tests, while those given plain drinking water continued to do poorly. The Alzheimer's mice received the equivalent of five 8-oz. cups of regular coffee a day (or two cups of Starbucks coffee, or 14 cups of tea). Moreover, the brains of the caffeinated mice showed nearly a 50% reduction in levels of beta amyloid. The effect appears to be through suppression of both β-secretase and presenilin 1 /g-secretase expression. Caffeine had this effect only on those with Alzheimer’s; normal mice given caffeine through adulthood showed no cognitive benefit.
Arendash, G.W. et al. 2009. Caffeine Reverses Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Brain Amyloid-β Levels in Aged Alzheimer's Disease Mice. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 17 (3), 661-680.
Cao, C. et al. 2009. Caffeine Suppresses Amyloid-β Levels in Plasma and Brain of Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Mice. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 17 (3), 681-697.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/uosf-crm070109.php
Midlife coffee drinking reduces risk of dementia
A large, long-running Finnish study has found that those who were coffee drinkers at midlife had lower risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life compared to those drinking no or only little coffee midlife. The lowest risk was found among moderate coffee drinkers (drinking 3-5 cups of coffee/day). Tea drinking was relatively uncommon and was not associated with dementia.
Eskelinen, M.H. et al. 2009. Midlife Coffee and Tea Drinking and the Risk of Late-Life Dementia: A Population-based CAIDE Study. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 16(1).
http://www.physorg.com/news151225794.html
Chocolate, wine and tea improve brain performance
A study of over 2000 older Norwegians (aged 70-74) has found that those who consumed chocolate, wine, or tea had significantly better cognitive performance and lower risk of poor cognitive performance than those who did not. Those who consumed all 3 studied items had the best performance and the lowest risks for poor test performance. The associations between intake of these foodstuffs and cognition were dose dependent, with maximum effect at intakes of around 10 grams a day for chocolate and around 75–100 ml a day for wine, but approximately linear for tea. The effect was most pronounced for wine and modestly weaker for chocolate intake. The finding is consistent with research indicating that those who consume lots of flavonoids have a lower incidence of dementia.
[623] Nurk, E., Refsum H., Drevon C. A., Tell G. S., Nygaard H. A., Engedal K., et al.
(2009). Intake of flavonoid-rich wine, tea, and chocolate by elderly men and women is associated with better cognitive test performance.
The Journal of Nutrition. 139(1), 120 - 127.
http://www.physorg.com/news149185135.html
Coffee helps you retain mental sharpness later in the day
A recent study of 40 older adults (over 65) confirmed the popular belief in the value of caffeine in helping overcome a decline in mental sharpness later in the afternoon. All the participants (like three-quarters of all people in that age group, studies suggest) described themselves as "morning people". Testing confirmed that they were less alert later in the day. Given coffee, but not told whether it was "real" coffee or decaffeinated, those who drank the regular coffee did not experience mental declines in the afternoon tests. Note that participants were already regular coffee drinkers (and were asked to abstain before arriving for the test).
[1166] Ryan, L., Hatfield C., & Hofstetter M.
(2002). Caffeine reduces time-of-day effects on memory performance in older adults.
Psychological Science: A Journal of the American Psychological Society / APS. 13(1), 68 - 71.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/01/health/psychology/01AGIN.html?rd=hcmcp?p=041sRh041sTt436WO012000mo9$ho9mk
Helping memory with "natural" supplements
Do caffeine and glucose help concentration? A recent study found that volunteers who drank a mixture containing caffeine and glucose (as well as trace levels of guarana, ginkgo and ginseng) showed clear improvements in memory and attention. Those who consumed the individual ingredients, or a placebo, did not show such improvements.
Scholey, A. & Kennedy, D. 2003. Report at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference in Bournemouth 13-15 March.