Caffeine Helps Prevent Multiple Sclerosis

(Ivanhoe Newswire) When you enjoy your cup of coffee in the morning you may also be helping to prevent a central nervous disease. A new study in mice finds caffeine protects mice from a multiple sclerosis (MS) like condition.

MS is a disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech and bladder control. Researchers from Cornell University and Finlands University of Turku conducted the latest study.

Investigators studied mice that normally develop an MS-like condition. Study authors say when the rodents had the equivalent of six to eight cups of coffee a day they did not develop the condition. Researchers say the caffeine affected the building blocks in DNA, preventing the disease.

Researchers say this could lead to new ways to prevent and treat MS. However, they caution more work needs to be done to research this in humans. They say a study of people with MS to track their caffeine intake and the effects of the disease could be an important next step. Research could potentially help treatment for other diseases as well such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

SOURCE: Published online in the 2008 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on June 30, 2008

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