[ad_1]
In addition to brightening our mornings and keeping us all day, coffee has many health benefits: its caffeine content is supposed to improve alertness and short-term memory – but studies suggest that coffee may have long-term protective effects on the brain, as well.
Coffee consumption was previously badociated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and scientists now say they may have an idea of the reason. It turns out that phenylindans – chemical compounds that form during the brewing process – inhibit the growth of proteins badociated with degenerative brain diseases. And the darker the roast, they say, the more protective compounds there are in each cup.
For the new study, published in Frontiers in NeuroscienceResearchers from the Krembil Brain Institute in Toronto badyzed the chemical components of three different samples of Starbucks Via instant coffee: a light roast, a dark roast and a dark decaffeinated roast. They then exposed extracts of each sample to two types of protein – beta amyloid proteins and tau proteins – recognized as features of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Studies have shown that as these conditions progress, these proteins tend to form clumps (called amyloid plaques and entanglements of tau proteins) in the brain.
RELATED: Why hot coffee could be healthier than Cold Brew
The three coffee extracts prevented the agglutination of these proteins, suggesting that something in the US morning favorite infusion could have a protective effect against the progression of the disease. And since the researchers found no difference in efficiency between ordinary and decaffeinated breweries, they determined that do not the caffeine that provides these benefits.
However, they noted more inhibitory effects of both dark roasts compared to light roast. This has led researchers to think of phenylindans, compounds formed by the decomposition of acids during coffee roasting, which are largely responsible for the bitter taste of coffee.
Phenylindans are found in higher concentrations in longer roast coffees, such as roasts and espressos. The authors wrote in their article that they had "surprisingly potent antioxidant activity," but their ability to interact with amyloid proteins and tau proteins has not been reported before.
In other laboratory studies, they discovered that a mixture of phenylindane actually prevented the protein-bound agglutination; in fact, it was the only studied compound that has an effect on amyloid proteins and tau. For tau proteins, it exhibited more potent inhibition levels than any other compound studied.
RELATED: Here's what happened when I gave up coffee for a week
Since both dark roasted coffee extracts had higher levels of protein inhibition than light roast, the authors suggested that it was the phenylindan component of the coffee "largely responsible" for this effect. (And good news for decaffeinated coffee lovers: because the decaffeination process is occurring before roasting process, the authors badume that this has no effect on phenylindane levels.)
This does not necessarily mean that everyone should start drinking espresso or roasting their very dark coffee beans. The research is still preliminary, according to lead author Donald Weaver, MD, co-director of the Krembil Brain Institute, and much remains unclear about how these compounds actually work in the human body. (In addition, other research suggests that lighter roasts have different beneficial compounds, so it can still be a blow to overall health.)
RELATED: 8 strange things related to memory loss later in life
In a press release, Weaver said he hoped the research would lead to further study of phenylindans, or even the development of drugs that could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. He also added that it was good to know that coffee naturally has these beneficial properties, even though there is not enough evidence to drink it just for these reasons.
"What this study does is take the epidemiological evidence and try to refine it and demonstrate that there are actually components in the coffee that are beneficial to stave off cognitive decline," Weaver said. "It's interesting, but do we suggest that coffee is a cure? Absolutely not."
Experts say the best way to protect your brain from age is to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. And if it turns out that a cup of coffee a day fits perfectly in this plan, we are in complete agreement.
To receive our best articles in your inbox, sign up for Healthy Living Newsletter
Source link
