A new study by Finnish and Swedish researchers reveals, drinking moderate amounts of coffeed can help the middle-aged decrease their risk of developing Alzheimer's. Published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, the research reveals drinking coffee in midlife, helps lower the risk of late-onset dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as compared to those who drink little or don't drink coffee, at all.

Researchers found moderate coffee drinking i. e. three to five cups a day, lowered the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's by 65%.

Conducted in co-operation with the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki , the study results are based on repeated interviews of
1,409 Finns in their 50s over two decades. Their coffee-drinking habits were checked, memory functions tested and tested again, between the ages of 65 and 79-years. The second tests revealed only 61 had developed dementia and only 48 suffered from Alzheimer's.

Similar studies have shown coffee brings about improvement in certain memory functions, however, this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer. While, it remains unclear as to how exactly moderate coffee drinking helps delay or avoid the onset of dementia, it is possible that coffee contains strong anti-oxidants. which are known to counter Alzheimer.

Studies have also shown, coffee not only protects the nervous system, which in turn protects against dementia, coffee also protects against diabetes, with its direct link to Alzheimer's.

Barely a day after the Finnish-Swedish research results, psychologists at Durham University , UK , published the results of a separate study, linking heavy coffee drinking to hallucinations. Kivipelto, in response to the British study's results, says her research has also shown 'insignificant' benefits to drinking more than five cups of coffee to protect against dementia. 'Too much is simply too much', she says.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia include memory loss, impaired judgment or reasoning, and changes in behaviours and mood.