Introduction

Espresso coffee contains a highly concentrated amount of caffeine. But it may do more than just wake you up, as researchers say it may prevent an important process at the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Protecting Against Alzheimer’s Disease

And a new study has shown that drinking espresso every day, even in a cocktail (mixed with a latte, americano, or even a martini), can protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Research Findings

Research article published in the journal of Agricultural and food chemistry have shown that in preliminary laboratory tests in vitro conducted by the University of Verona in Italy, espresso compounds may prevent the accumulation of tau proteins, which accumulate in the brain and kill neurons, a process thought to be involved in causing neurodegenerative disease.

Study lead author Prof Mariabina D’Onofrio said: “Recent studies have shown that coffee may also have beneficial effects on several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. While the exact mechanisms that cause these conditions are still unclear, a protein called tau is thought to play an important role.”

Tau Proteins and Neurodegenerative Diseases

In healthy people, tau proteins help stabilize brain structures, but in neurodegenerative diseases, they can stick together into “fibers.” These tangles are one of the main causes of dementia, which slow down the thinking ability and memory.

Laboratory experiments have shown that drinking espresso prevents its formation. The researchers also found that the fibers were shorter and did not form large plaques due to the higher concentration of espresso extract, caffeine, or genistein.

Professor D’Onofrio explained: “We found that the shortened fibers were not cytotoxic and did not serve as seeds for further aggregation.”

Understanding the Chemical Composition

The team brewed espresso from store-bought coffee beans and then described their chemical composition using a scanning technique called nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. They chose caffeine and trigonyline, both alkaloids, as well as the flavonoids genistein and theobromine, compounds also found in chocolate, to focus on further testing.

Effectiveness of Different Espresso Mixtures

Professor D’Onofrio noted that they found the beneficial effects of espresso whether it was drunk on its own or mixed with a latte, americano, or even an espresso martini.

Donofrio said that while some studies have linked coffee consumption to health risks, recent studies have shown that the drink can have beneficial effects when consumed in moderation due to its biological properties. And coffee is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that reduce inflammation.

Additional Health Benefits of Coffee

Regular coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of premature death and protection against type 2 diabetes, heart and liver disease, and certain types of cancer.

“We have presented a large amount of evidence that espresso coffee is a source of natural compounds that have beneficial properties in alleviating tau-related diseases,” Donofrio added.

Source

Source: Independent