Data from a recent study of Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic mice suggests that daily moderate consumption of caffeine may improve memory function in already impaired mice.

After consuming the human equivalent of about 5 cups of coffee per day, mice with AD exhibited superior memory function compared to mice with AD who had not consumed the caffeine. In addition, mice that had consumed to caffeine showed a slowing of brain deteriorization including lessoned decomposition of the hippocampus and of the entorhinal cortex. Caffeine consumption was also found to improve physiological functions that are key in brian function including processes involved in glycogen synthesis.

The results of the study were published this month by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The findings add to a growing body of research showing that caffeine consumption is beneficial for brian function in later life.