Green coffee as a novel agent for Alzheimer's disease prevention by attenuating diabetes

Abstract

Diabetes type 2, caused mainly by insulin resistance, is growing in incidence worldwide. In addition to being a major public health concern, type 2 diabetes is also a risk factor for dementia, including Alzheimer's disease type dementia. Coffee consumption is reported to have protective effects in both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. We review here the reported beneficial effects of coffee in both disease conditions and the previously identified active ingredients of coffee. Furthermore, we revisit our recent findings of improved glucose utilization in the periphery and in the brain in a mouse model of high-fat diet induced type 2 diabetes after treatment with a decaffeinated green coffee preparation. Overall, consumption of coffee appears to improve diabetes and reduce the risk of dementia, although future studies are required to further identify the active components and the type of coffee that is most effective in addressing these conditions. © 2014 Versita and Springer-Verlag.