Canadian researchers conducted a study investigating how coffee can protect the human brain and found it depends on the roast, according to USA Today.
Here are three things to know:
1. For the study, researchers examined the compounds known as phenylindanes, in instant light roast, dark roast and decaffeinated dark roast Starbucks brand coffee.
2. Phenylindanes are known to prevent two protein fragments common in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. The research team hypothesize the abundance of the compounds depends on how long the coffee beans roast, instead of the amount of caffeine.
3. Dark roast instant coffee was found to have the highest quantity of phenylindanes. However Donald Weaver, MD, PhD, co-director of the Krembil Brain Institute, told USA Today that most studies on coffee do not suggest it cures anything.
"It's interesting, but are we suggesting that coffee is a cure? Absolutely not, " Dr. Weaver told USA Today.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Pediatric proton therapy has better cognitive outcomes, study finds
AI tools to detect infection fall short when analyzing data across health systems
Oregon hospital restricts visits to new moms, kids during flu season