According to Gary Arendash, a researcher at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in Tampa, Florida, giving Alzheimer’s mice the human equivalent of five cups of coffee, or 500 milligrams of caffeine, a day has plaque-busting effects and reverses symptoms of impaired memory in aging Alzheimer’s mice.

Arendash presented data that shows caffeine can reduce levels of two enzymes that play a role in the complex process of amyloid plaque formation.

“I don’t know of any drug under development that can address and suppress both of these enzymes,” Arendash said.

If preventing Alzheimer’s is as easy as drinking coffee, why do so many elderly Americans develop the disease? Arendash says the average American drinks only 150 milligrams of coffee a day and reduces intake with age.

Arendash’s institute has recently started clinical trials to determine if coffee will also prevent or treat Alzheimer’s in people.

“Caffeine could be a surprisingly effective treatment against this disease,” Arendash said. “It’s almost too good to be true.”

Source: Bloomberg