The coffee connection

November 5, 1999
Web posted at: 10:26 AM EST (1526 GMT)

By Laird Harrison

(WebMD) -- Like plenty of other Americans, San Francisco software developer Steven Peterson starts his day with a strong cup of coffee. "I've got to have that jolt of caffeine before my brain kicks into gear," he admits. A jolt of java may do more than jump-start the brain, however. It may also confer long-lasting benefits.

In a study published in the August 1999 issue of the International Journal of Sports Medicine, scientists at the European Graduate School for Neurosciences tested the effects of carbohydrate beverages -- some with caffeine, some without -- on 15 endurance athletes. Low doses of caffeine (about as much as in a single cup of coffee) improved long-term memory. Low to medium doses (about two cup's worth) improved attention, memory and coordination.

Scientists at the University of Bristol in England reached the same conclusions about morning cups of coffee. In a study reported in the August 1999 issue of Physiology and Behavior, the British team found that volunteers who had a cup of caffeinated coffee with breakfast and a midmorning coffee break were more able to retain new information.

Neurobiologists have learned that brain cells require a boost in calcium in order to store long-term memories. Findings published in the October 12, 1999 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences show that caffeine increases calcium in neurons. Furthermore, caffeine has been shown to spur the growth of the branch-like extensions at the end of nerve cells that are responsible for forming connections with other cells.

That doesn't prove that a cup of coffee boosts long-term memory, says one of the researchers, Menahem Segal, a professor of neuroscience at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. Also, given caffeine's other potential side effects -- jittery nerves, slightly boosted blood pressure and increased stress hormones -- it's probably unwise to load up on caffeine before studying for a big test, especially if you're not used to drinking coffee. But if you already love coffee, the latest research may help you remember why.