Coffee and Alzheimer’s disease - animal & cellular evidences

Authors: MILLER, MARSHALL - Tufts University; Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Submitted to: Coffee: Emerging Health Effects and Disease Prevention
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2011
Publication Date: 3/27/2012
Citation: Miller, M.G., Shukitt Hale, B. 2012. Coffee and Alzheimer’s disease - animal & cellular evidences. In: Chu, YiFang, editor. Coffee: Emerging Health Effects and Disease Prevention. New York, NY: John Wiley. p. 77-96.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Increases in lifespan in modern times have put significant social and academic emphasis on age-related pathologies. Of the many chronic, non-acquired diseases, dementias are among the most fiscally and psychologically burdensome to society. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent and well known form of dementia. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that the consumption of coffee may reduce the risk for cognitive decline, dementia, and AD. In one study, coffee was associated with a 65% risk reduction for late life dementia and AD among those consuming 3-5c/day of coffee or tea during their middle life relative to non-drinkers. Caffeine in coffee has been implicated as the active component associated with risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia among coffee drinkers, particularly among women. However, coffee also contains a variety of other bioavailable and potentially therapeutic phytochemicals. This chapter briefly reviews Alzheimer’s disease and then discusses the evidence for coffee’s (and the components of coffee) neuroprotective effects in both cellular and animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and age-related cognitive decline.