A new study set to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, suggests yet another potential health benefit of coffee consumption: it could reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis.
It is estimated that more than 2.3 million people worldwide have multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system – the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
MS is thought to be an autoimmune disease, whereby immune-system induced inflammation damages the protective coating of nerve fibers, called myelin. Symptoms of MS vary but commonly include loss of balance and coordination, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, tremors and numbness.
Past studies have suggested that coffee consumption may protect against other neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In this latest study, researchers say the beverage could also protect against MS.
Consuming at least four cups of coffee a day linked to reduced risk of MS.
From the US study, the team also found that participants who did not drink coffee in the year prior to symptom onset were approximately 1.5 times more likely to develop MS, compared with those who consumed at least four cups of coffee a day.
Drinking too much coffee, for example, has been associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety, while some studies have indicated that coffee intake may interfere with a woman’s reproductive system.
