Coffee could combat Parkinson's and dementia

Coffee could combat both Parkinson's disease and a form of dementia, research suggests.

Two compounds, including caffeine, in the pick-me-up work together to prevent the accumulation of a toxic protein in the brains of mice.

This protein, known as alpha-synuclein, is associated with both Parkinson's and dementia with lewy bodies (DLB).

Tests on rodents genetically at risk of both diseases showed the combination of caffeine and the compound EHT prevented alpha-synuclein from building-up after just six months.

The scientists now hope caffeine and EHT could be combined into a drug to help treat Parkinson's and DLB in humans, which are both incurable.

More