Morning Drink Boosts Brainpower

By Natalie Moore Posted March 28, 2017

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Most of us start the day off with a little help form a piping hot cup of coffee…

Or maybe a crisp glass of iced green tea.

But one thing is certain: Whatever your morning beverage choice is, it likely contains caffeine.

And while you already know that this special compound can give you a morning jolt, researchers from Indiana University have found yet another reason you should be drinking it.

Caffeine can help protect your brain from one of its worst enemies — Alzheimer’s.

You see, caffeine can boost the levels of a special enzyme that can keep your mind sharp as a tack well into your golden years.

This special enzyme, called NMNAT2, is vital for a healthy brain because it stops the formation of plaques that can lead to Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

NMNAT2 actually binds to tau proteins and keeps them from growing into dangerous Alzheimer’s-causing plaques.

So the more NMNAT2 you have, the healthier your brain is going to be… simple as that.

That’s why scientists set out to identify whether certain compounds could activate NMNAT2 production in the brain cells of mice.

After testing over 1,200 different substances, good ol’ caffeine came out on top.

In fact, when given to mice with low levels of NMNAT2, the caffeine restored the enzyme levels to those found in healthy mice.

Even better, caffeine improved the memory of mice with high levels of tau proteins.

This means caffeine can help your brain stay healthy, even when you’re faced with the effects of aging or already in the throes of disease.

Other research shows caffeine can improve your short-term memory, speed up reaction times and even lower your risks of heart disease and cancer.

But like most things, caffeine works best in moderation. Experts recommend keeping your caffeine intake between 300 and 400 mg, or about 3–4 cups of coffee or tea, a day.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

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Sources

^[1] IU study finds caffeine boosts enzyme that could protect against dementia

^[2] Pros and Cons of the Caffeine Craze

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

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