Question: I’m in love with my coffee and drink about six to eight cups a day. Is it really hurting my brain?
Dr. Amen's Answer:
Caffeine works in the brain by messing with a natural process involving a chemical called adenosine, which is involved in sleep, and adenosine receptors. When adenosine is produced in the brain, it attaches to adenosine receptors, and this makes the brain’s blood vessels dilate, causes neurons to slow down, and induces drowsiness.
When you drink caffeine, however, the adenosine receptors mistake the caffeine for adenosine and bind to it. When caffeine is attached to the adenosine receptors, it does just the opposite of adenosine. It constricts the brain’s blood vessels, speeds up neuronal activity, and signals your body to go on high alert by producing adrenaline.
This makes your heart beat faster, your breathing become more shallow, and your muscles tense up. It also boosts dopamine levels, which activates the pleasure centers in your brain — which explains why you love your coffee. The bad news is that, when the effects of the caffeine wear off, you feel sluggish. So you consume more caffeine to re-energize. Soon enough, you’re hooked on the stuff.
A new study from Wake Forest University used brain imaging to test the effect of low, moderate, and high caffeine intake on cerebral blood flow. What they found is that habitually high caffeine intake (about 950 mg a day) results in diminished blood flow to the brain.
I can assure you that reduced blood flow is not good for your brain. It lowers cognitive function and can exacerbate emotional and mental health problems. It also can wreak havoc with your sleep.
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