Simply Caffe Vinci

Dr Gary Arendash, an American neuroscientist, claims to have uncovered evidence that caffeine not only helps to stave off the disease but can treat it.

A key aspect of Alzheimer’s is sticky clumps of an abnormal protein in the brain called beta amyloid plaques.

At the end of the two-month study, the caffeine-drinking mice performed far better on tests of memory and thinking than mice given only water. Their memories were as sharp as those of healthy older mice without dementia.

Humans receiving an equivalent dose for their body weight would be consuming 500 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to five cups of ordinary coffee.

The same amount of caffeine can be obtained by drinking two cups of strong coffee, 14 cups of tea, or 20 cola drinks.

Dr Arendash, who led the study at the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centre (ADRC) in Tampa, said: “The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable ‘treatment’ for established Alzheimer’s disease, and not simply a protective strategy.

“That’s important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people. It easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process.”

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, which affects around 700,000 people in the UK. That figure is expected to double by 2025.

It has been estimated that dementia costs the UK a total of £17 billion a year.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “It is too early to say whether drinking coffee or taking caffeine supplements will help people with Alzheimer’s.

“With no cure yet, research into treatments that could help people with Alzheimer’s is vital.”

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Much more research is needed to determine whether drinking coffee has the same impact in people.”

Taken from the Telegraph

Coffee might soon be considered a health drink following a study showing it is a surprisingly rich source of anti-cancer agents.

A study has found that coffee contributes more antioxidants - which have been linked with fighting heart disease and cancer - to the diet than cranberries, apples or tomatoes.

Fruit and vegetables have long been known to be a good source of antioxidants, but the new findings are surprising because it is the first time that coffee has been shown to be such a rich source of the agents.

Professor Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania warned, however, that the study did not prove that coffee was good for you because high levels of antioxidants in food did not necessarily translate into higher levels absorbed by the body.

Nevertheless, the research - which was funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute - indicates that at least where coffee is consumed in high amounts, the beverage could be responsible for relatively high levels of antioxidants in the diet.

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close," said Professor Vinson, whose study was described at the weekend to the American Chemical Society in Washington.

The study found that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee appeared to provide similar levels of antioxidants.

The American findings are probably reflected in Britain, where people drink about 70 million cups of coffee each day despite the country's reputation as a tea-drinking nation. More than half of the American population are daily coffee drinkers. Although coffee consumption may be lower in the United Kingdom, nearly half of the British population regularly drinks instant or ground coffee, the market analysts Mintel say.

Antioxidants help to rid the body of harmful free radicals, destructive molecules that damage cells and DNA. They have been linked to a number of health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. Studies have associated coffee drinking with a reduced risk of liver and colon cancer, type two diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.

But Professor Vinson urged moderation, recommending that people should drink only one or two cups of coffee per day. He added that it was important not to ignore the benefits offered by fresh fruit and vegetables. "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fibre," he said.

The research showed that, compared with other foods, dates were the richest source of antioxidants. But since so few dates are eaten by Americans, they only contributed a small amount of antioxidants to the average person's diet. Cranberries and red grapes also contain high levels of antioxidants.

A spokesman for the British Coffee Association said: "This study reconfirms the fact that moderate coffee consumption of four to five cups a day not only is perfectly safe but may confer health benefits."

The pros and cons of coffee:

Benefits

Can increase alertness and improve short-term recall.

May reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver among heavy drinkers.

May postpone muscle fatigue.

Contains caffeine-related compounds (theophylline) that can alleviate the symptoms of asthma in some cases.

Risks

Increases blood pressure among people who already suffer from high blood pressure.

Causes insomnia, anxiety, and irritability.

May worsen symptoms of PMS in some women.

Can reduce fertility in women trying to conceive.

Can cause heartburn and indigestion.

Google is seeking to cash in on Google Maps, one of its most popular products beyond search, with a range of new advertising opportunities for brands.

The search giant has only previously run ads on a large-scale basis across Google Maps in Japan, where the mobile market is most advanced. But now Google Australia is planning to test some ads, with other markets including the UK rumoured to be next in line.

Fast-food chains, coffee shops and restaurants are the likely advertisers for Google. McDonald’s is already an advertiser in Japan, as are coffee shop chains and other food and drink outlets.

“We get one million searches a year for railway stations. We’re trying to figure out what things people might want. It could be a coffee shop or it could be a McDonald’s,” David Egan, general product manager at Google Australia, told the Sydney Morning Herald. Ads on Google Maps seems to be a logical move from Google as more people access the service on their phones but the search giant has yet to reveal what specific opportunities it will offer to advertisers beyond logo and location.

by Andrew McCormick, revolutionmagazine.com