Scientists have found a compound in coffee that may team up with caffeine to fight two currently incurable neurodegenerative diseases: Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. The discovery, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that the combination of these two compounds may become a therapeutic option to slow brain degeneration. Current treatments for Parkinson’s address only the symptoms but do not protect against brain degeneration.
Lead author M. Maral Mouradian of Rutgers University said that prior research has shown that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. While caffeine has traditionally been credited as coffee's special protective agent, coffee beans contain more than a thousand other compounds. The Rutgers study focused on a fatty acid derivative of the neurotransmitter serotonin called EHT (Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide), which is found in the coffee bean's waxy coating.
Mouradian’s team gave mice small doses of caffeine and EHT either separately or in combination. Each compound by itself had no effect, but when given together, they boosted the activity of a catalyst that helps prevent the accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. This suggests that the combination of EHT and caffeine may be able to slow or stop the progression of these diseases.
“EHT is a compound found in various types of coffee, but the amount varies,” says Mouradian. “It is important that the appropriate amount and ratio be determined so people don't over-caffeinate themselves, as that can have negative health consequences.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that can lead to shaking and stiffness as well as difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Nearly one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson's disease. Lewy body dementia, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects more than one million people in the United States. It causes problems with thinking, behavior, mood, and movement.