Aug 02, 2015 03:36 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

New research suggests that coffee consumption could boost the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI),The Washington Post reported.  

Previous studies have linked coffee consumption was linked to a significant reduction in the risk of developing MCI, or a a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but Italian researchers found that older adults who increased their amount of coffee consumption had about two times higher rate of MCI compared to those who didn't drink coffee and one and a half time higher rate of MCI in comparison with those who consumed no more than one cup of coffee each day.

"These findings from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging suggested that cognitively normal older individuals who never or rarely consumed coffee and those who increased their coffee consumption habits had a higher risk of developing MCI. Therefore, moderate and regular coffee consumption may have neuroprotective effects also against MCI confirming previous studies on the long-term protective effects of coffee, tea, or caffeine consumption and plasma levels of caffeine against cognitive decline and dementia," researchers wrote.

For the study, researchers "explored the link between coffee drinking habits and cognitive function" in a group of more than 1,400 people from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging, U.S. News & World Report reported.

Based on their analysis, researchers concluded that moderate doses of caffeine improve memory performance in, whereas higher doses of caffeine may impair memory acquisition. Their conclusion was also supported in a related animal study.

Researchers also found that caffeine could in part compensate the cognitive decline in older individuals because its effects on vigilance and attention, mainly in situations of reduced alertness. Finally, habitual and moderate consumption of coffee may prevent MCI through attenuation of subclinical neuroinflammation, and reduction in oxidative stress.

The findings are detailed in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

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