Numerous studies have suggested that caffeine has many health benefits. According to a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience a new research suggests that a dose of caffeine after a learning session may help boost long-term memory. In this study, the researchers found that subjects who took caffeine were better at identifying pictures that were similar, compared with participants who took the placebo. The research team conducted experiments using 100 mg and 300 mg doses of caffeine. They found that performance was better after the 200 mg dose, compared with the 100 mg dose, but there was no improvement after the 300 mg of caffeine, compared with 200 mg. Thus, the research concluded that a dose of at least 200 mg is required to observe the enhancing effect of caffeine on consolidation of memory. They investigators say there are many possibilities as to how caffeine may enhance long-term memory. For example, they say it may block a molecule called adenosine, preventing it from stopping the function of norepinephrine - a hormone that has been shown to have positive effects on memory. But further research should be conducted to better understand the mechanisms by which caffeine affects long-term memory.
According to the latest figures from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes 300 mg of caffeine a day. The main sources of the compound are coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Many studies have suggested that caffeine offers health benefits. Last year, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that caffeinated drinks may reduce the risk of liver disease, while another study says drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day may reduce suicide risk. But it is not all good news. One study suggests that the stimulant is able to disrupt sleep patterns hours after consuming it, while another proposes that caffeine from energy drinks may alter heart function.
