Decaffeinated coffee is useful for improving memory, research shows.
The drink has a preventive effect and helps with brain diseases or age-related memory loss, the researchers said.
They study the effects of taking a dietary supplement with properties similar to decaffeinated coffee in people with type 2 diabetes. The disease contributes to lowering glucose levels in the brain, leading to memory impairment and other brain functions.
After five months of follow-up, the researchers found that the use of the supplement led to an increase in glucose levels, in contrast to the results in the placebo group.
This is the first evidence showing the potential benefits of decaffeinated coffee preparations, both for preventing and alleviating cognitive problems caused by type 2 diabetes, advancing age or neurodegenerative disease, says lead researcher Dr. Giulio Pasinetti from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Consumption of caffeinated coffee is useful in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to previous studies. According to scientists, three components of the drink - caffeine, caffeic and chlorogenic acid - help block the toxic accumulation of proteins that are associated with the development of the condition.
The extracts show benefits in preventing the loss of insulin-producing cells, explains lead researcher Kun Huang of the Chinese University of Science and Technology.
Several other studies have shown that caffeine also has a protective effect against Alzheimer's. Consumption of coffee is beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels among those affected by the disease.
High cholesterol damages the blood-brain barrier, restricting the central nervous system from the systemic circulation. Such damage is observed among a number of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have found that another, "mysterious" component in the invigorating drink also provides protection against Alzheimer's. Its action is expressed by increasing the levels of a protein called granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF). It is believed to prevent the development of progressive neurological diseases that lead to loss of neurons and intellectual abilities, such as memory and thinking.