Each year, approximately 500 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide. Its multiple beneficial effects have been extensively documented, including its neuroprotective , anti-dementia and anti-Parkinson effect.. This new study from the University Health Network in Toronto deciphers a mechanism that helps explain why drinking coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease: the cause here is phenylindanes, compounds produced by roasting, which interact with the proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Work presented in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, but cautious, because at this stage, the authors do not commit to considering coffee as a cure for neurodegeneration.
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Researchers from the Krembil Brain Institute suggest in practice that morning coffee not only awakens attention but consumed regularly and reasonably, can protect against the development of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. "Its consumption seems to be linked with a reduction in risk", confirms the main author, Dr. Donald Weaver. "We sought to understand why, which compounds are involved, and how they may influence age-related cognitive decline."
Caffeine or phenylindanes involved? the study here confirms the similar potency of coffee and decaf in fighting neurodegeneration. “We therefore found very early on that the protective effect was not due to caffeine,” the researchers write. They identify a group of compounds called phenylindanes, which result from the process of roasting coffee beans. Phenylindanes are unique in their effect in inhibiting 2 “culprit” proteins, beta amyloid and tau, proteins that are characteristic and implicated in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Phenylindanes with a doubly inhibiting effect: this first demonstration of the interaction of phenylindanes with the proteins responsible for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease now calls for specifying to what extent these compounds are beneficial and whether they have the ability to enter the blood or cross the blood-brain barrier. Finally, the fact that it is a natural compound compared to a synthetic compound is also a major advantage.
Certainly, there is still a lot of research before being able to translate these data into a therapeutic option in clinical routine. However, the compounds present in or derived from coffee are full of benefits in the fight against cognitive decline.
Without being able to consider coffee as a remedy at this stage, however, the researchers cautiously conclude.
