Coffee consumption has been linked to various health benefits in recent years, and now researchers have found that drinking at least four cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis by one and a half times. Ellen Mowry, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, presented the findings at the 67th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Washington, DC. Mowry and her colleagues analyzed data from studies conducted in Sweden and the US, which showed that caffeine intake has been associated with a reduced risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. The study also found that coffee consumption can protect against multiple sclerosis, suggesting that the active ingredient in coffee may have a protective effect on the brain.
The researchers analyzed data from a Swedish study of 1,629 multiple sclerosis patients and 2,807 healthy individuals, as well as a US study of 1,159 multiple sclerosis patients and 1,172 healthy individuals. Participants were asked about their coffee consumption in the year or years before the onset of multiple sclerosis symptoms. The results of both studies showed a link between increased coffee consumption and a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis. In the Swedish study, those who drank at least six cups of coffee a day had a one and a half times lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis than those who drank little or no coffee. The US study showed similar results, with those who drank at least four cups of coffee a day having a one and a half times lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Mowry suggested that further research should be conducted to investigate the possible effect of caffeine on the course of multiple sclerosis, such as the occurrence of relapses and the long-term severe limitations that the disease can cause. The study adds to the growing body of evidence that coffee consumption can have positive health effects, including protecting against diabetes and various types of cancer.
