Your brain wants coffee — but not for the reason you think

I love this story. And all of it is true…

It’s 6:00 AM and a cell phone rings in the car of a young woman on her way to work in Oakland, California. While reaching for the phone she loses control of her car, which plunges into the estuary between Oakland and Alameda Island.

Fortunately, the car doesn’t sink. Staying calm and thinking quickly, the woman breaks a window, pulls herself out of her car, and swims to shore.

Onlookers report that as she staggers onto dry land, she is carrying her cup of takeout coffee.

THAT is how much we love our coffee. And that infatuation just might pay off in our later years.

Research from the University of South Florida reveals that caffeine appears to work with other compounds to increase levels of a colony stimulating factor known as GCSF — a type of protein that’s typically low in Alzheimer’s patients.

GCSF helps remove beta-amyloid deposits that cause brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Chuanhai Cao, one of the study authors, told the Orlando Sentinel that moderate daily intake of caffeinated coffee may be the best option for long-term protection against Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Cao: “Coffee is inexpensive, readily available, easily gets into the brain, appears to directly attack the disease process and has few side effects for most of us.”

Well…except for that one obvious “morning boost” side effect.

Sources:
“Coffee may protect against Alzheimer’s disease, study finds” Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel, 6/22/11, orlandosentinel.com