A recent Portuguese study (Magalhães et al., 2021), published in Molecular Psychiatry, documents the specific changes in brain activity related to habitual coffee consumption. (1)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Researchers from the School of Medicine in Minho, Portugal, selected a first group of regular coffee drinkers and a second group of individuals who do not drink coffee regularly (31 and 24 subjects, respectively).
The brain structure and its connections were compared by functionalmagnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). An examination that detects and displays brain activity in response to a stimulus.
The scan, which lasted 7 minutes and 30 seconds, was performed at rest. With an invitation to participants ‘to stay with their eyes closed, relaxed and let their minds roam freely.’ And it was repeated, in the group of non-regular coffee drinkers, 30 minutes after a cup of it was given.
The effects of coffee on brain activity
The comparison showed that regular coffee drinkers, at rest, had reduced connectivity in two areas of the brain and showed the expected effects: improved motor control and alertness levels compared with non-coffee drinkers. (2)
In the first group, increased activity was also observed in several areas of the brain, which was associated with a significant improvement in learning and memory. The differences with the second group (non-regular coffee drinkers) were significantly reduced after they drank a cup of coffee.
‘This indicates a potential causal link between coffee consumption and the above-described changes in lower connectivity in somatosensory and limbic networks,’ the researchers explain.
Anxiety and stress
Further analysis, conducted by psychological interviewing of participants, found that male regular coffee drinkers showed increased levels of stress-in terms of difficulty relaxing and nervous arousal-‘consistent with the common attribution of increased alertness and arousal when drinking coffee.’
Regarding anxiety, the researchers did not reach an unambiguous conclusion. ‘Our results are open to two interpretations: higher coffee/caffeine consumption leads to increased stress and anxiety; or, alternatively, higher stress and anxiety induce higher coffee/caffeine consumption.’
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) Magalhães R., Picó-Pérez M., Esteves M. et al. Habitual coffee drinkers display a distinct pattern of brain functional connectivity. Mol Psychiatry 26, 6589-6598 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01075-4
(2) Coffee consumption is traditionally associated with neuroprotective function (Carneiro et al, 2021), as well as increased mental performance in terms of concentration, responsiveness, wakefulness, and memory. V. Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Coffee can protect the nervous system. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade). 22.8.21, https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/salute/il-caffè-può-proteggere-il-sistema-nervoso
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
