‘Go decaf’ to improve brain energy

It’s not the ‘real deal’, but now a study is suggesting we should hit the decaf coffee to improve brain energy.

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine made the discovery after exploring whether dietary supplementation with a standardised decaffeinated coffee prior to diabetes onset might improve insulin resistance and glucose utilisation in mice with diet-induced Type 2 diabetes.

Administering the supplement for five months while evaluating the brain’s genetic response in mice, researchers found the brain was able to more effectively “metabolise” glucose and use it for energy in the brain.

Experts claimed glucose utilisation in the brain was reduced in Type 2 diabetes patients, and could often result in neurocognitive problems, such as dementia.

“Impaired energy metabolism in the brain is known to be tightly correlated with cognitive decline during ageing,” lead researcher, Dr Giulio Pasinetti, said.

While excessive coffee intake was not recommended, Dr Pasinetti claimed some of the non-caffeine components in coffee may provide health benefits in mice.

Hoping to play his part in developing preventative treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Dr Pasinetti would now explore the preventative role of decaffeinated coffee delivered as a dietary supplement in humans.

Are you a decaf lover or do you prefer the ‘real stuff’? Share your thoughts on this study by commenting in the box below.