Caffeine reverses memory impairment in Alzheimer's mice

A recent study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, showed that in mice caffeine significantly decreased the abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center gave aged mice, bred to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms, the equivalent of five cups of coffee a day. In these mice, memory impairment was reversed.

These new findings “provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy," said lead author Gary Arendash, PhD.

The study included 55 mice, genetically altered to develop memory problems that mimic Alzheimer’s disease. Once tests confirmed the mice were exhibiting signs of memory impairment, the researchers gave half of these mice caffeine in their drinking water. The caffeine amount was equivalent to five 8-oz. cups of regular coffee (two Starbucks, 14 cups of tea, or 20 sodas). The other half of the mice did not receive caffeine.

At the end of two months, the caffeinated mice performed better on memory tests, and their brains showed a nearly 50-percent reduction in levels of beta amyloid.

Based on these promising findings in mice, researchers at the Florida ADRC and Byrd Alzheimer's Center at USF hope to begin human trials to evaluate whether caffeine can benefit people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease, said Huntington Potter, PhD, director of the Florida ADRC and an investigator for the caffeine studies.

Summary of an article about research results originally published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Volume 17:3 (July 2009).