Caffeine can protect the brain against dementia, researchers say

Caffeine contains compounds that can boost an enzyme in the brain that can, in turn, protect humans against dementia, scientists at Indiana University, US, have said.

The enzyme, called NMNAT2, was discovered by a team of researchers at IU Bloomington in 2016.

NMNAT2 protects neurons from stress and also combats misfolded proteins known as tau.

Researchers identified 24 out of 1,280 compounds screened for the potential to impact the production of NMNAT2.

The research revealed caffeine was one of the substances that increases production of NMNAT2.

Caffeine also appears to improve memory function in mice genetically modified to produce high levels of misfolded tau proteins, which contribute to the development of dementia.

Researchers also found that mice modified to produce misfolded tau made lower levels of NMNAT2.

Other proteins that boosted NMNAT2 production include rolipram, ziprasidone, cantharidin, wortmannin and retinoic acid.

“This work could help advance efforts to develop drugs that increase levels of this enzyme in the brain, creating a chemical ‘blockade’ against the debilitating effects of neurodegenerative disorders,” Hui-Chen Lu, a professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at IU Bloomington’s College of Arts and Sciences, said in a press release.

“Increasing our knowledge about the pathways in the brain that appear to naturally cause the decline of this necessary protein is equally as important as identifying compounds that could play a role in future treatment of these debilitating mental disorders,” Lu added.

The study was published in Scientific Reports.