Bari, Italy — A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Bari Aldo Moro have found that coffee consumption may affect the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The study evaluated 1,445 people between the ages of 65 and 84 years old. After 3.5 years, individuals with normal cognition who regularly consumed coffee on a daily basis (1–2 cups per day) had a reduced incidence rate of MCI than those who did not or rarely consumed coffee. Additionally, those that upped their coffee consumption by more than cup per day during the study had a two times the MCI incidence than those that maintained or lowered their rate of consumption.

However, no association between MCI rate and higher consumption rate (more than two cups per day) or rare coffee consumption was found.

The authors hypothesize that long-term coffee consumption may offer neuroprotection because caffeine stops excessive activation of adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs), which may stem damage caused amyloid plaque in the brain (thought to be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease). Additional research is needed on this subject.

This study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Posted on WholeFoods Magazine Online, 8/18/15