Scientists have discovered that a daily dose of caffeine helps the body fight the effects of high cholesterol. A recent study has revealed the fact that just one cup of coffee a day could protect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) from damaged which might be caused by a high cholesterol level.

The BBB protects the central nervous system from the circulation of the rest of the body, providing a regulated blood flow. Studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol weakens this barrier and the brain can be affected by blood borne contamination. This can lead to several disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

During this study, researchers from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences used several rabbits, which were given the equivalent of a coffee cup a day, feeding them with a high cholesterol diet. After 12 weeks, scientists discovered that the BBB was more intact in the rabbits which were given caffeine.

It seems that caffeine manages to protect the blood-brain barriers by maintaining the levels of tight junction proteins. These are responsible for binding the cells in the BBB tightly to each other in order to stop unwanted molecules crossing into the central nervous system.

Caffeine also protects people from memory loss caused by ageing, as well as having benefic effects in preventing Alzheimer’s disease