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Could coffee affect your brain?
A study published in the journal, Frontiers of Neuroscience (frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience), has revealed the effects of coffee on the brain, looking at the compounds in coffee and how they impact age-related cognitive decline. Caffeine was previously thought to be beneficial, but this new study suggests otherwise; stating that it is, in fact, compounds called phenyl findanes – which are released when coffee beans are roasted – which may have a beneficial efect.
These compounds give coffee its bitter flavour, and were found to prevent the combination of toxic proteins that have been linked to neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Slow-roasted coffees produce more phenyl findanes, therefore providing the strongest protective efect on the brain. The caffeine content of the coffee doesn’t correlate with the effectiveness of the phenyl findanes. So next time you need an early-morning caffeine kick, opt for a rich, slow-roasted variety.