Researchers make the case for more caffeine: A look at the latest Alzheimer’s news in brief
Coffee and Tau Proteins
It seems there’s a new reason why Alzheimer’s patients can benefit from drinking coffee.
German and French researchers have discovered that caffeine has positive effects on tau deposits, which contribute to the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and are one of the traits of Alzheimer’s disease.
For the study, lab mice were bred to develop tau proteins and those given regular doses of caffeine showed slower memory decline.
The findings are published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging.
Fungal Infections
A fungus infection could play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, a new study reveals.
After testing the brain samples of deceased Alzheimer’s patients, researchers have found “compelling evidence” that fungal proteins exist within the tissues.
Various fungal species were also discovered depending on the severity of the disease in each patient.
The study by scientists from Barcelona’s Severo Ochoa Centre for Molecular Biology and the Carlos III University of Madrid was published in March, 2014 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease.