Cofee cure for dementia?

For issues specific to caring for someone with dementia.
Coffee 'could be cure for dementia'
Published Date: 06 July 2009
A few cups of coffee a day may be all that is needed to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
Scientists have uncovered powerful evidence that caffeine not only helps to stave off the disease but can treat it.

They hope soon to follow up the initial results from animal experiments with human patient trials.

US neuroscientist Dr Gary Arendash, who led the research, said: "The new findings provide evidence that caffeine could be a viable 'treatment' for established Alzheimer's disease, and not simply a protective strategy.

"That's important because caffeine is a safe drug for most people. It easily enters the brain, and it appears to directly affect the disease process."

A key aspect of Alzheimer's is sticky clumps of abnormal protein in the brain called beta amyloid plaques.

Mice with a rodent equivalent of the disease showed a 50% reduction in levels of amyloid protein in their brains after scientists spiked their drinking water with caffeine. The change was reflected in their behaviour as the mice developed better memories and quicker thinking.

Dr Arendash's team studied 55 mice genetically engineered to develop dementia symptoms identical to those of Alzheimer's as they aged.

At the age of 18 to 19 months - around 70 in human years - the mice were showing signs of memory impairment. The researchers then gave half the mice drinking water containing caffeine while the other half continued to drink ordinary water.

Humans receiving an equivalent dose for their body weight would be consuming 500 milligrams of caffeine - or five eight ounce cups of ordinary coffee - a day. The same amount of caffeine can be obtained by drinking two cups of strong "coffee shop" coffee, 14 cups of tea, or 20 cola drinks. ...
Well it ain't working for Mum !

She's always drunk a fair amount of coffee everday - on average 4 or 5 mugs; at the moment she's in the middle of another downward spiral and even the Aricept doesn't seem to be having any effect.

So although it works for mice doesn't mean it works for humans !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you Susieq, my mum has had coffee all her life and still drinks it now for what good it does. I can't say her Alzheimer's is any better and if this coffee is supposed to work then why did she get it in the first place?

What rubbish!!!!

Perhaps you have to be a genetically-modified mouse for it to work and the mice were modified to express identical symptoms of dementia, not Alzheimer's itself.
I've re-thought this one and think they mean a Coffee Cure for Alzheimer's CARERS

It's so we can keep awake all night and all day when our carees have dreams/fancies and start wandering Image Image Image Image Image
How BIG a cup do they mean though????? Sorry guys! you know my sense of humour by now. Image Image

A soup bowl??? Image