Coffee reduces brain lesions in Machado-Joseph disease

Regular consumption of caffeine, at concentrations equivalent to five to seven cups of coffee a day reduces brain damage in a model of Machado-Joseph disease, concludes a study released today by the University of Coimbra.
A team of researchers at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and the Faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of Coimbra (UC) evaluated the impact of caffeine on Machado-Joseph disease with disease induction in rat brain, using virus modified causing neuropathology. "The experiments and analyses have identified the target where the caffeine acts to block the progression of the disease: the adenosine A2A receptor for. Also showed for the first time, changes in neuronal connection exerting caffeine protective effects, able to restore function by acting as inhibitor of this perturbation in neuronal circuits "explains UC.
With a significant prevalence in Portugal, especially in the Azores, the Machado-Joseph is a rare genetic disorder and is characterized by abnormal production of a protein (ataxin-3) possessing an overly long string of glutamines (abundant amino acid in muscle tissue), causing toxicity in different areas of the brain.
In a statement, UC says that although this "discovery represents an important piece to the complex puzzle 'understanding of this rare and incurable disease," the study coordinators accepted for publication in the international journal Annals of Neurology reference (whose first author is Nelio Gonçalves) highlight that "are promising results that open avenues for the development of new therapeutic approaches, but further studies are needed to confirm clinical trials and is the molecular target is effective in humans."
The scientific community "has validated this new information on the mechanisms involved in neuropathology, renewing hope in finding a treatment that allows delay its evolution."
"However, deadlines for a new drug to hit the market is pure speculation," the researchers contend Luís Pereira de Almeida and Rodrigo Cunha. Currently, "there is no mechanism to interfere with the progression of Machado-Joseph disease, just treat the symptoms. Therefore, the results open the door to the development of a new strategy to brake the onset of disease," the researchers clarify.
The study had funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), National Ataxia Foundation (USA) and a Marie Curie European network that studies the set of polyglutamine diseases.
Source: Sol