| A recent study by researchers at the French National | | | | memories over four years. The female subjects |
| Institute of Medical Research finds that coffee | | | | displayed a 33 percent lower risk of having verbal |
| protects women from age-related memory loss. The | | | | memory declines and 18 percent lower risk of having |
| study tracked more than 7,000 men and women | | | | visual and spatial memory declines, in comparison to |
| living in three French cities. The researchers observed | | | | women who drank one cup of coffee or less per |
| the subjects' health and mental function and | | | | day. This effect also appeared to be related to age |
| questioned them about their past and present eating | | | | as women over 80 had more benefits from caffeine |
| habits, friends, and daily activities. The study found | | | | drinks compared to others 10 to 15 years younger. |
| that the more coffee drank, the better the effects | | | | Some research done with mice suggests that |
| appeared to be for women's memory function, | | | | caffeine might block the accumulation of proteins |
| however men did not receive the same benefit. | | | | that lead to mental decline. Dr. Ritchie claims that |
| According to lead researcher, Karen Ritchie, the | | | | caffeine is a psychostimulant that reduces cognitive |
| information gathered from the study was used to | | | | decline in women even after adjusting for factors |
| identify the specific impact of caffeine on certain | | | | that could affect memory function such as age, |
| aspects of women's lives. They found that women | | | | education, disability, depression and medications. So |
| who drank more than three cups of coffee a day, or | | | | women take note : that one extra cup of coffee a |
| caffeine equivalent in tea, were able to retain more | | | | day just might keep your memory from going astray. |
| of their verbal and, to a lesser extent, visual | | | | |