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Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly better understood by scientists. Indeed, researchers from Lille have just identified the mechanisms of an anomaly located in neurons. A very popular drink could help fight it.
What if the little black coffee you drink in the morning, in addition to helping you wake up, helped fight Alzheimer’s disease? This is in any case the hypothesis put forward by researchers from Inserm, the Lille University Hospital and the University of Lille.
Brain receptor malfunction explains memory problems
In the brains of patients affected by Alzheimer’s, the activity of certain receptors, called A2A, increases. The impact of this dysfunction on memory was previously unknown. By studying this phenomenon, researchers from Inserm, the University Hospital and the University of Lille, led by David Blum, have succeeded in demonstrating its consequences in mice.
Scientists have thus demonstrated that the early increase in the expression of these A2A receptors promotes the loss of synapses in the hippocampus, a brain structure that controls memory, in particular. Which therefore triggers memory disorders early in rodents.
A dysfunction present in other brain cells
In addition to this discovery, the researchers also found that microglial cell dysfunction could be involved in the loss of synapses.These results suggest that increased expression of A2A receptors alters the relationship between neurons and microglial cells. This alteration could be at the origin of an escalation of effects leading to the development of the observed memory disorders.” explains Émilie Faivre, co-last author of the study, researcher at the Lille Neuroscience and Cognition research center.
Caffeine, a way to prevent cognitive decline?
Scientists have been assuming for several years that caffeine blocks this A2A receptor. Various epidemiological studies also support this theory.
To establish this hypothesis with certainty, a phase 3 clinical trial, with 248 patients with early or moderate Alzheimer’s disease recruited, was set up by David Blum. “We are therefore once again highlighting the interest of testing caffeine in a clinical trial on patients with early forms of the disease.” specifies the man who is research director at Inserm and co-author of the study.
“Indeed, we can imagine that by blocking these A2A receptors, the activity of which is increased in the patient, this molecule could prevent the development of memory disorders or even other cognitive and behavioral symptoms”.
Results expected for 2026
For this study, patients have to swallow capsules. To avoid distorting the results, they do not know what they are taking. Half swallow a placebo, the other half take 400 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of about four coffees.
In six months, scientists will look at the results, already assuming that patients who took caffeine will have the least cognitive decline. See you in 2026 to find out, which leaves time to drink a few coffees…