Neuroprotective effects of caffeine

Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide. Caffeine has well-known short-term stimulating effects on central nervous system, and possibly long-term protective effects against neuro-degeneration. This view is supported by epidemiological studies that revealed an inverse association between the chronic consumption of caffeine and the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's diseases. The putative protective effects of caffeine intake against Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are of great interest since they open possibilities for prevention or postponing the onset of disease. This review presents the existing experimental evidence for neuroprotective effects of caffeine in cognition and the mechanisms by which it affects cognitive decline and pathologic changes in neurodegenerative diseases. © 2012 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.