helene
Supporter
Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Report abuse
|
 Posted: 08/07/07 - 07:34 Post subject: Caffeine Appears to Slow Memory Loss in Women |
  |
|
Scientists have found that caffeine may help women retain their memory as they age. The study has been published in a medical journal Neurology and provides information on how a daily dose of caffeine may help older women without dementia protect their memory.
The study included 7,000 people who did not suffer from dementia. Their cognitive abilities and caffeine intake were tracked for four years. Other factors that could have impacted the memory have been taken into consideration such as education, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and depression. The caffeine’s protective effects were observed in tests that involved verbal memory.
Caffeine benefits appeared in older women, age 65 and seem to increase with age. At the age of 65, regular caffeine consumers were 30 % less likely to show a decline in memory but at the age of 80, the results were even better with women being 70 % less likely to have a failing memory. Caffeine was not found to prevent dementia though.
Researchers believe that caffeine may block adenosine receptors, which in turn may prevent damage caused by beta-amyloid, a toxic substance that accumulates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
They still haven’t realized why caffeine didn’t have the same protective effects in men but suggest that caffeine may be processed differently by women and men.
Scientists don’t advise women to suddenly increase their caffeine intake until further studies warrant these caffeine benefits. |
|
