Coffee linked to reduced rates of Multiple Sclerosis
A brand new piece of academic research – which is set to be presented to the American Academy of Neurology – has suggested that coffee could lower the risk of multiple sclerosis.
The potential health benefits of coffee are numerous. Past studies have indicated that our espressos and Americanos could help protect against other forms of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as heart disease and diabetes.
This particular piece of research was conducted by Dr Ellen Mowry of John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Mowry and her colleagues looked at two separated population-based studies that had previously looked into the potential relationship between coffee consumption and multiple sclerosis.
The first study, which looked solely at Swedish participants, showed that those who did not drink coffee were typically 1.5 times more likely to suffer from MS, compared to those who drank coffee at regular intervals.
These findings were backed up the second study, which had been conducted in the United States.
The team believe that the protective effects of coffee were, probably, down to the presence of caffeine. Speaking about their findings, they said: “Caffeine has neuroprotective properties and seems to suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines.”
Dr Mowry stated that further research is necessary and that there should be a large scale investigation into how coffee consumption relates to long-term disabilities and symptom relapses in patients with MS.
It is estimated that over two million people worldwide suffer from MS, a chronic disease which affects the central nervous system and in particular parts of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.