Caffeine May Reduce Memory Loss in Type 2 Diabetics

Moderate consumption of caffeine may help reduce memory loss associated with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study published in the journal PLoS. The findings reveal caffeine exhibited a protective effect on the brain’s hippocampus, which is crucial for memory and learning.

Researchers at the University of Coimbra used a novel animal model of type 2 diabetes to investigate the behavioral, neurochemical and morphological modifications present in the hippocampus and tested if caffeine consumption might prevent these changes. They used a model closely mimicking the human type 2 diabetes condition that can develop in adults as result of a high-fat diet. They also investigate a possible protective effect by caffeine.

The researchers compared four groups of mice—diabetic or normal animals without or with caffeine (equivalent to 8 cups of coffee a day) in their water—to find that long-term consumption of caffeine not only diminished the weight gain and the high levels of blood sugar typical of diabetes, but also prevented the mice's memory loss. This confirmed that caffeine could protect against diabetes as well as prevent memory impairment, probably by interfering with the neurodegeneration caused by toxic sugar levels.

Next, the researchers looked at a brain region linked to memory and learning, which is often atrophied in diabetics, called hippocampus. The diabetic mice had abnormalities in this area showing synaptic degeneration and astrogliosis—both phenomena are known to affect memory and caffeine consumption prevented the abnormalities.