Most of us can’t do much in the morning until we’ve had our ritual cup of coffee. Recent evidence suggests that the cognitive boost that it provides may actually provide long term benefits and not just short lived effects. The study, published in the June 2014 Journal of Nutrition also found that having an alcoholic drink each day could also improve mental performance, but that the line between benefits and diminished returns was much harder to establish with certainty and across a broader selection of people.
The study was conducted by the national Institute on Aging and involved 727 men and women. The test scores of participants were compared on the basis of a variety of skills such as thinking and memory skills while under the influence of caffeine and alcohol. The nutrient intake of the participants was also noted to see what, if any, relevance that has on the test scores. The results showed that those with a healthy diet did better on tests of mental function than those with a poor diet. The group on the higher caffeine intake also performed better on these tests. The effects of moderate alcohol intake were mixed.
The improved functioning of the brain while on caffeine has to do with the natural brain chemicals that are blocked while under its influence. Under normal circumstances, we have a chemical in our brain called adenosine which regulates the release of certain excitation brain chemicals throughout the day. Caffeine however has the ability to block the adenosine receptors, which in turn gives us more energy and improves mental performance to a degree. While cognitive function can improve with the use of caffeine, test show little improvement in in terms of memory.
The tests conducted for the effects of moderate alcohol use on cognitive functions were a little more difficult to decipher. It seems that it really depends on the individual as well as how much alcohol was being consumed. Moderate, as defined in this study as no more that 2 drinks per day for men, 1 per day for women, appeared to improve memory and attention. This was especially true for women and those over the age of 70. But this improvement also came at the expense of a decline in executive functioning and global thinking. The harm to the brain of drinking more than moderate amounts is well documented. Long-term, alcohol abuse will result in short-term memory lapses as well as other problems such as vascular disease.
A healthy diet proved to play an important role in mental performance. The participants who ate foods high in nutrients scored higher in tests for attention and memory than those with poorer diets. Those who’s diets best resembled the Mediterranean diet of nuts, fish, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, shows lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease and better memory overall.