One more reason to enjoy that cup of coffee

[M_Smith]

One more reason to enjoy that cup of coffee
[SIZE=-1] The New York Times reported recently on a new study that suggests coffee may help prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The study, published in the January 2009 Journal of Alzheimer's Disease is observational, and a researcher is quoted in the Times as saying, ?We have no evidence that for people who are not drinking coffee, taking up drinking will have a protective effect.?
Nonetheless, isn't it nice, fellow coffee drinkers, when you find that something you are already doing may be beneficial to your health? According to the Times, those who consumed three to five cups of coffee per day were 65 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer?s disease or dementia than those who drank two or less. The study looked at 1,409 men and women at midlife over an average of 21 years.
You can't put too much faith in early studies. Ginkgo biloba, for example, once showed promise in preventing Alzheimer?s disease and dementia, but as we recently reported, it has fizzled in clinical trials.
I personally hold out hope for coffee, and reports of other benefits have kept me on my daily regimen. It has shown promise in heart and brain protection, blood-sugar control, gallbladder health, and preventing Parkinson?s disease. But it?s not for everybody. Coffee consumption has been associated with weak bones, heartburn and stomach pain, problems in pregnancy, and can interact with various drugs. And it can cause jitters and withdrawal symptoms.
?Kevin McCarthy, associate editor
For more on coffee, see our report, ?Can Coffee be a Health Food?? Also, see our condition coverage and Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) for Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
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