8452
0
Posted on Apr 03, 2008, 8 p.m.
By Jeanelle Topping
Daily intake of caffeine could reduce the risk of neurological disorders by blocking the harmful effects of high cholesterol on the central nervous system, a new study suggests.
Daily intake of caffeine could reduce the risk of neurological disorders by blocking the harmful effects of high cholesterol on the central nervous system, a new study suggests.
Researchers from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences found that the equivalent of one cup of coffee a day can help protect the blood-brain barrier from damage caused by a cholesterol-rich diet.
Jonathan Geiger, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said: "Caffeine appears to block several of the disruptive effects of cholesterol that make the blood-brain barrier leaky.
"High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). For the first time we have shown that chronic ingestion of caffeine protects the BBB from cholesterol-induced leakage."
The findings suggest that caffeine could serve an important role in therapies against neurological disorders. However, as the research was trialed on animals and not humans further study is required to support the claims. 
