Coffee adversely impacts Alzheimer patients.
London, April 4: Regular intake of coffee or caffeine by patients with Alzheimer's disease may deteriorate their neuropsychiatric symptoms, including but not limited to anxiety, say researchers.
While it is well known that memory problems are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, this dementia is also characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, apathy, depression, hallucinations, paranoid, sundowning and more known as Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) which may be strongly present already in the first stages of the disorder.
The results indicate that caffeine worsened these symptoms in mice with Alzheimer's.
The researchers also discovered significant effects, especially in relation to neophobia -- a fear of everything new -- anxiety-related behaviours, and emotional and cognitive flexibility.
"The mice develop Alzheimer's disease in a very close manner to the human patients with early-onset form of the disease," said lead author Raquel Baeta-Corral from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain.
"They not only exhibit the typical cognitive problems but also a number of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)-like symptoms, so it is a valuable model to address whether the benefits of caffeine will be able to compensate its putative negative effects."
For the study, the team analyzed the effect of caffeine on normal ageing mice and familial Alzheimer’s models.
However, coffee has also been suggested as a strategy to prevent dementia, both in patients with Alzheimer's disease and in normal ageing processes, due to its action in blocking molecules - adenosine receptors - which may cause dysfunctions and diseases in old age.
But "our observations of adverse caffeine effects in an Alzheimer's disease model together with previous clinical observations suggest that an exacerbation of BPSD-like symptoms may partly interfere with the beneficial cognitive effects of caffeine", the researchers said.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
