Background: The consumption of coffee has been associated with beneficial effects when it comes to Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies on Conilon coffee consumption in elderly people with AD.
Objective: Evaluate the effects of Conilon coffee consumption in elderly with AD.
Methods: The study was carried out with 9 participants who consumed a minimum of 2 cups (200 mL cup) of Conilon coffee per day for 90 days. Cognitive assessment was done before (T0) and after 90 days (T90). Blood analysis was conducted at T0 and T90, as well as the assessment of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS). The levels of chlorogenic acids and caffeine in the coffee beverage were quantified by liquid chromatography.
Results: During the treatment, the participants consumed at least 550 mg and 540 mg of CGAs and caffeine, respectively. A significant improvement in cognition between T0 and T90 was observed as per MMSE, CTP, and clock drawing tests. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in AOPP (37%) and TBARS (60%), indicating a reduction in oxidative stress. The consumption of the coffee did not significantly alter any blood parameter, which confirms the safety of the coffee treatment during the 90 days.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated for the first time that regular consumption of coffee with high amounts of CGAs and caffeine improves cognitive functions and reduces oxidative stress, without altering blood parameters that indicate possible signs of toxicity in classical target organs.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Coffea; Robusta; caffeine; chlorogenic acid; coffee.