Effects of Caffeine on Memory

Most dedicated coffee drinkers will tell you empirically that caffeine has beneficial effects on brain function, including memory. Science mostly supports this theory, although the evidence is not crystal clear. Despite the short-term benefits, caffeine may have long-term consequences that are detrimental to our memories, although it also has potential to reverse Alzheimer symptoms.

Reversing Alzheimers

• According to a study performed at the Florida Alzheimer Disease Research Center, caffeine may have beneficial effects for Alzheimers sufferers. It lowers levels of beta amyloid--the protein that is generally linked with the disease--in both the brains and the blood of the mice who were the subjects of the study. These mice, who were specifically bred to develop Alzheimers, were also less likely to develop memory problems in the first place if they consumed caffeine during early adulthood. The research group has also noted a reduction in beta amyloid levels in nondemented humans consuming caffeine, suggesting that caffeine consumption may slow the onset of the disease.

Brain Stimulation

• Austrian researchers at the Medical University Innsbruck performed medical imaging resonance scans (MRIs) on subjects who had just consumed a quantity of caffeine equal to 2 cups of coffee. They found increased neuron activity in the frontal lobe, the site of working memory, as well as the anterior cingulum, which regulates our ability to pay attention.

Negative Effects

• Although caffeine seems to stimulate memory function and counteract some of the effects of Alzheimers, it also has potential to raise blood pressure, which can be a factor in memory decline. Caffeine also compromises glucose tolerance, a condition which is sometimes associated with impaired cognitive function in older adults. These potential long-term problems must be weighed against the short-term benefits when evaluating the overall effect of caffeine on memory.