Caffeine & Alzheimers
 

Something already common in our every day lives is reversing the effects of Alzheimers in mice? It seems an entirely exciting prospect to me. I'm anxious to see the human trials completed.


Link to the full BBC news article.

My maternal grandmother was tormented by an especially bad case of Alzheimers the last eight years of her life. I have always been interested in research on the subject. I know that I am at risk of the disease, and would like to do everything I can to delay its onset. If incorporating a mild amount of caffeine into my diet in my early 20's might help, I'm going to give it a try.

How does this preliminary study impact you?
Would you recommend coffee to a relative experiencing the early stages of Alzheimers in the hopes that it will reverse or decrease their problems with Dimentia?

I've read this about Alzheimer's quite a while ago. I've read coffee consumption can prevent Parkinson's as well. And then there is the promising data coming out of Omega-3 supplementation.

However, I have also read that a high consumption of red meat can lead to Alzheimer's. It's good they are still continuing studies on this. I would like to see more studies on the overall impact that nutrition has on diseases such as these. Preventative medicine is the key to long life and vibrant health. I would like to avoid taking a lot of medicine in old age.

I think if I knew someone who had early onset Alzheimer's, I would probably suggest drinking a cup of coffee or two a day and maybe taking an Omega-3 supplement (all on doctor's okay, of course), if not just incorporating more fatty fish or flax seed into their diet.

I'd also help them pick up hobbies and games that would keep their brains going. I'd engage with them on these if I could.

I have no one in my family that has had Alzheimer's. Diabetes and gout on the other hand, come in plenty on both sides of the family. This is interesting though.

B_G is it High amounts of red meat or simply just red meat period? What exactly is high in this case? Is it like sugar in that, cannot be measured exactly how much causes diabetes?

As if I really needed another reason to drink coffee. :D

As with most things dietry, it's a high amount, not any amount period. I think it may be tied to a nearly daily intake of red meat. I think that eating red meat more than once or twice per week can be considered a high intake.

The Mediterranean diet is often cited as a diet that sees low instances of many diseases, so have a look at that. There is low consumption of meat, and the overall intake of red meat is about once per month I think. Mind you, this is the traditional Mediterranean diet. I think many in that region have started eating more like we do here in North America. And also consider the regionalism of the Mediterranean diet. I think we normally consider the cuisine of much of Greece and Southern Italy when we use that term. The cuisine of Northern Italy and North Africa, on the other hand, are a bit out of step with a few not-so-healthy ingredients.

The Mediterranean diet? It's 90% olive oil, 5% pasta, 4% tomatoes and 1% meat, yes?

Something like that.

http://www.puritan.com/vf/healthnote...yramid_Med.jpg

Ah, the food pyramid. I've been told by a few doctors that the food pyramid favors grains too much, even if they're healthy, whole grains.

My pyramid would look something like this:

That's great, Will. Except it looks more like a dais than it does a pyramid. And what's with the pork? At least there's no red meat. ;)

I'm seeing a food rhombus./___\
I'm not Jewish. I have been known to say "mazel tov" from time to time, though. Pork is high in protein, relatively low in fat, and is packed with nutrients. As long as you go to a reliable butcher and get leaner cuts (tenderloin) you're probably fine eating pork.
I lost my taste for red meat, not to mention I'm not really comfortable with red meat standards here in the states.

Anyway, I've also heard that caffeine has some connection to Alzheimer's. I drink tea a few times a week, so I figure it's probably enough.

+1

"That's great, Will. Except it looks more like a dais than it does a pyramid. And what's with the pork? At least there's no red meat."


I thought pork was considered red meat? Why is red meat considered so bad? Is red evil? ;P

That's interesting, I honestly don't know. Pork might officially be red or it might be white, I'm not sure. I've been told differently by different people. I always assumed that the lighter meat was white meat. I've always understood red meat to be more like adult cattle, horse, deer, etc. whereas white meat is poultry, rabbit, pork, sheep, etc. Now that I think about it, the matter doesn't seem clear. I don't want to jack the thread, though.

I am soo fucked.

I eat red meat almost every day and I haven't had coffee or caffeine in over a year.

wait.. what was I talking about?

Okay, here's how I can tie all this in to the topic of the OP:

Food consists of many molecular structures, chemicals, enzymes, what have you. Even between a single food type, you get variances in their makeup. For example, not all peppers have the same nutritional content, both on a macro- and micronutrient level. The antioxidant makeup alone is varied by colour.

Coffee has caffeine, but it also has antioxidants with a makeup unlike most foods, so there are other benefits.

Red meat and pork have many of the same substances that can lead to the creation of carcinogens. They also tend to have higher levels of cholesterol and saturated fat compared to white meat and fish, which is why you should always choose lean cuts of red meat and pork, and always cut off any extra fat you see. Beef and pork fat aren't your best sources of dietary fat. But even lean beef and pork carry more health risks than, say, wild Alaskan salmon or, say, tempeh.

I think it's impohtant to keep control of ya tempeh.

Wait, five cups of coffee a day is a mild amount?

It depends. It's five 8oz. cups. Many mugs hold twice that I think. And a "tall" at Starbucks is 12oz., while a "grande" is 16oz. (but they brew really strong coffee).

Health Canada suggests keeping your daily caffeine intake below 400mg. I don't see 500mg being much of a problem unless you have a sensitivity.