Researchers at the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute report that the intake of caffeine equivalent to five cups of coffee a day, protected memory in Alzheimer’s mice and lowered the levels of the abnormal protein, beta-amyloid. Even when the mice had already high levels of beta-amyloid in their brains, intake of caffeine brought them down to lower levels.

“We were surprised to find that Alzheimer’s mice given caffeine in their drinking water throughout adult life performed much better than Alzheimer’s mice not given caffeine and very similar to normal mice without the disease,” said Dr. Gary Arendash, Ph.D, lead researcher in the study.

This research is in line with earlier research in humans that showed Alzheimer’s patients had a lower caffeine intake during the 20 years preceding diagnosis compared with age-matched individuals without Alzheimer’s disease.

Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr. Alzheimer’s Center & Research Institute.

Well, three apples actually - or, two 8oz glasses of apple juice. Those are the equivalent amounts that humans would need to consume to match the amounts given to laboratory animals in a study that seems to indicate that consuming apples can improve memory.

Antioxidants in apples may help slow the decline of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in the brain. Studies have shown that increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain can slow the mental decline of people suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Previous studies have shown that foods rich in antioxidants can slow brain-aging and boost memory.

Scientists believe boosting levels of an enzyme, Uch-L1, could help Alzheimer’s patients to restore memory. Brains affected by Alzheimer’s tend to be low in Uch-L1.

Scientists studied mice who had been given a shot to block Uch-L1 and found they were less likely to respond to training and learn. They also found that within three weeks after injecting mice who had brain plaque with the enzyme Uch-L1, they began to learn at the rate of healthy mice.

The enzyme has potential as a treatment in Alzheimers but needs much more study before it’s ready for human testing, the researchers said.

Enzyme May Help Memory in Alzheimer’s

Scientists are closer to having an accurate test to detect early Alzheimer’s using skin cells.

Scientists at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) have isolated a substance in skin cells that may provide doctors with a quick and accurate yes-or-no answer when they suspect a patient is showing early signs of the disease. The test could be performed easily by a nurse or medical technician in a doctor’s office or outpatient clinic.

Researchers say there is a biomarker that can distinguish between Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia within the first one to two years of the disease. Scientists hope that early detection will allow for early treatment, before the disease has had widespread and devastating effects.

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Scientists closer to early Alzheimer’s diagnosis