Brain Plugs

Dementia, Alzheimer's and How They Might Be Prevented

Dementia is a group of symptoms, not a disease in itself, associated with diminished cognitive skills such as memory, reasoning and communication, severe enough to interfere with daily activities.

Science is still at a loss in regard to what causes Alzheimer's, but the fact that it stems from brain cell death due to the "tangling" of tau proteins is an important clue in getting to the bottom of how to keep it from happening, reversing it or lessening its effects.

The Significance of NMNAT2 for 'Blocking' Dementia

Other compounds also gave NMNAT2 a production boost, such as rolipram, an "orphaned" antidepressant discontinued since the mid-1990s, a few other drugs and retinoic acid, which is derived from vitamin A. However, caffeine was found to be one of the most effective at increasing NMNAT2 production.

Significantly, other compounds were identified that actually lowered this important enzyme's production. They're important, Lu says, because they help researchers understand how they might contribute to dementia.

Increasing our knowledge about the pathways in the brain that appear to naturally cause the decline of this necessary protein is equally as important as identifying compounds that could play a role in future treatment of these debilitating mental disorders.

How Your Morning Brew Might Benefit Your Health

As previously mentioned, coffee was one of the 24 substances that increased NMNAT2 formation to effectively inhibit neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.

While Lu says knowing this information will help other scientists create drugs to increase levels of the NMNAT2 enzyme for the purposes of combating dementia, coffee has been identified as having other substances that are useful. A plethora of studies indicate that coffee offers benefits in cancer prevention and treatment.

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reversed its longtime position that coffee may cause cancer, and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported that coffee consumption may actually help reduce chronic disease.

It's What You Put in Coffee That Causes Problems

If you haven't heard how damaging fake creamers and artificial sugars are in some peoples' minds, the only way to make it palatable — you may want to sit up and take notice. Another way of saying it is: You know what's in your coffee, but do you know what's in your creamer?

Raw, organic cream from pastured cows is a far better creamer in your coffee because it's natural and contains a healthy amount of "good" fat, but your best option is to drink your coffee black.

Sweeteners for Your Coffee: Best Left Out

Then there's artificial sweeteners, another popular item in coffee circles, which can be worse for you than sugar and fructose. Aspartame, for instance, is shown in numerous studies to increase weight gain, worsen insulin sensitivity and even cause cancer and neurological problems.

While natural sweeteners such as honey and agave syrup may seem to be much healthier than chemically contrived sweeteners, they contain high amounts of fructose and may be highly processed.

If you like your coffee sweetened, you can try the herb stevia, which doesn't raise your blood glucose level like sugar does. It may be one of the safest alternatives for sugar. Luo han guo, also known as monk fruit, is another natural sweetener with this attribute and some say it has a superior flavor.

The Importance of Choosing Organic Shade-Grown Coffee

Conventionally grown coffee is one of the most chemically contaminated foods in the world. In contrast, organic coffee contains no chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. The beans have a richer flavor and come with natural antioxidants. It's healthy for you, more sustainable for the farms that grow it and vastly better for the planet.

Additionally, coffee is a shade-loving plant, but growers often strip forests to make growing and harvesting easier. This destroys the ecological habitat of many natural pest deterrents, such as birds and lizards, while the pests flourish, resulting in additional pesticide use.

The downward spiral to the environment involves chemical run-off, erosion and potentially contaminated water supplies. Organic shade-grown coffee is available at numerous retail markets, but you can also order it online.