Coffee is gradually getting scientists’ approval. Studies suggest that the drink may have some valuable effects on our health.
In the latest analysis, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, scientists studied the connectivity and structure of the brain of 31 regular coffee drinkers and 24 non-coffee drinkers while at rest, while performing a task and soon after consuming a cup.
And found that overall, people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day are more alert, more focused, and have a better memory than individuals who don’t drink the brew.
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Scientists examining MRI scans discovered differences in the makeup of the brain between regular coffee drinkers and those who don’t.
The researchers discovered that coffee drinkers had a more “efficient” brain, with quicker connectivity found in the cerebellum, the right precuneus and the right insular.
Patterns show that regularly drinking coffee may give people better motor control, as well as stronger learning and memory skills, and were less likely to let their mind wander.
The study also discovered that coffee could also provide these benefits for a short time in non-coffee drinkers after a single cup.
Professor Nuno Sousa, of the University of Minho in Portugal, said:
“This is the first time that the effect of regular coffee drinking on the brain’s network has been studied in this level of detail.
“By using fMRI technology, we were able to observe the effect of coffee on the brain’s functional connectivity and structure, and the differences between regular coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers, in real-time.”
Prof Sousa added:
“These findings have – at least in part – helped to provide a mechanistic insight for some of the effects observed in existing research on coffee; such as improved motor control, increased alertness, and benefits to learning and memory.”
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Many studies have also linked coffee drinking to lower rates of heart disease, early death and diseases like liver cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes and even neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.