Effects of caffeine

[greaterexp]

Has anyone ever noticed any improvement at all in their cognitive issues with caffeine intake? I can’t imagine that it would be significant, but I keep thinking I read somewhere that it may be helpful. Ideas?

[erash]

Always!

[erash in reply to erash]

☕️👍

[Kenu]

I have to have my 3-cups of coffee ☕️, it seems to help me get going 👍😁. I know to much of anything is not good for you, but it seems that I have gave up a lot and changed to better eating so that warrants ☕️ 😉. 🙏🐾 Ken

[Berni51 in reply to Kenu]

I recently read on a research article that 3-4 cups of coffee won’t harm you unless you are having anxiety and that might get worse. But under more stable conditions, it is ok and not harmful. When I was on a farm, I drank like a whole pot. I only rarely have a latte or mocha, because of anxiety being one of my problems that gets out of control. I love them though. These things change back and forth though with every year. I am not a doctor and this does not account for some other diseases like kidney disease or others that may be affected.

[CynthiaS]

Every day!! ☕👈👍👍

[RoseySawyer]

I drink coffee everyday and I notice that it does help. My Neuro says it's okay for me to drink coffee. Having MS our bodies are a downer. ☕ Drink up. 😊

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I have one huge cup of strong coffee every morning after taking some meds with lots of water. Yes, the caffeine does help with my alertness and focus. I sip coffee all morning reheating it when it cools down. I don't drink it after noon.

[erash in reply to CalfeeChick]

Me either CalfeeChick

After noon affects my 💤

[Iona60 in reply to erash]

Me too!

[CraigS]

Life is not life without coffee in it!☕️☕️

[janetb1968]

I have to say yes but I do prefer a nice cup of tea with an occasional cup of coffee to get me going. I do drink lots of water aswell xxx

[goatgal]

greaterexp Coffee, black, starts my day. Like others, I don't drink it after noon but I don't function without it.

[Morllyn]

It does seem to give me a little pep and clarity.

The following is from PubMed.gov a US government site. The last 4 or so lines sum it up.

Is caffeine a cognitive enhancer?

Nehlig A1.

Author information

Abstract

The effects of caffeine on cognition were reviewed based on the large body of literature available on the topic. Caffeine does not usually affect performance in learning and memory tasks, although caffeine may occasionally have facilitatory or inhibitory effects on memory and learning. Caffeine facilitates learning in tasks in which information is presented passively; in tasks in which material is learned intentionally, caffeine has no effect. Caffeine facilitates performance in tasks involving working memory to a limited extent, but hinders performance in tasks that heavily depend on working memory, and caffeine appears to rather improve memory performance under suboptimal alertness conditions. Most studies, however, found improvements in reaction time. The ingestion of caffeine does not seem to affect long-term memory. At low doses, caffeine improves hedonic tone and reduces anxiety, while at high doses, there is an increase in tense arousal, including anxiety, nervousness, jitteriness. The larger improvement of performance in fatigued subjects confirms that caffeine is a mild stimulant. Caffeine has also been reported to prevent cognitive decline in healthy subjects but the results of the studies are heterogeneous, some finding no age-related effect while others reported effects only in one sex and mainly in the oldest population. In conclusion, it appears that caffeine cannot be considered a ;pure' cognitive enhancer. Its indirect action on arousal, mood and concentration contributes in large part to its cognitive enhancing properties.

PMID: 20182035 DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-091315

[Indexed for MEDLINE]

[itasara in reply to Morllyn]

Very good information. Thanks. I used to drink more, a few cups a day but I recently saw a vocal doc for singing problems and he thinks I have acid reflux. So I have one large mug a day sometimes two.. I can't say it Improved my memory or cognitive problems. Sometimes it boosts my energy.

[dianekjs]

greaterexp

neurologyadvisor.com/actrim...

😊👍🏻☕️

[greaterexp in reply to dianekjs]

Thanks for the information, especially since it refers to MS specifically.

[Iona60 in reply to dianekjs]

Wow! It's great that they are studying coffee for us.

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to dianekjs]

Thanks for posting the link.

[dianekjs in reply to CalfeeChick]

You’re welcome!

[MS_Indestructible in reply to dianekjs]

thank you for the link. I have recently started taking caffeine pills to combat my fatigue ~terry

[StacyHayward]

I don’t drink coffee. But if I intake any caffeine my bladder goes nuts!

[dianekjs]

I was rushed earlier and just wanted to quickly share the article link before tending to some early business. Now that I’ve had a chance to catch my breath (and pour a cup of coffee!) I wanted to also add that my neurologist/MS specialist said that there’s good evidence that coffee imparts some neurological benefits and to enjoy within reason. It’s nice to have his blessing, because had he told me to give it up, I doubt I would have complied! ☕️

[Kenu in reply to dianekjs]

Thanks, that was great info on MS and coffee ☕️. 👍🐾 Ken

[greaterexp]

Much of the time when I notice just a slowing of cognition, like staying with conversations, it’s in the afternoon or evening. I can’t handle caffeine after about noon, since it interferes with sleep, but I do have a cup or two of coffee in the morning. Of course there have been days when caffeine seemed to have no effect; the cognitive fog hit hard and early. I’ve wondered what others have noticed.

[dianekjs in reply to greaterexp]

greaterexp - It seems to give me an energy boost and perhaps a little sharpening. However, I’ve been fortunate not to have experienced any cognitive changes with my MS so far (fingers crossed so as not to jinx it), so I can’t really comment on whether coffee helps with that or not. My caffeine cut-off is about 3-4pm or else I won’t be able to sleep at all. ☕️👍🏻

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to greaterexp]

I know it’s not recommended, but I will drink a little “Mountain Dew” if I feel my energy dropping, especially if it’s important to keep alert.

[greaterexp in reply to CalfeeChick]

I’ve done the same!

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador in reply to greaterexp]

When I was still bicycling, before MS, riding many miles and needed a boost, a Snickers bar and Mountain Dew and I could ride another 40+ miles or more. Coming down off the caffeine/sugar high was not fun though.

[greaterexp in reply to CalfeeChick]

I can hardly imagine riding even half that with a case of MD and 100 Snickers! Wow!

It would seem that caffeine really gave you a boost physically. Getting that kind of boost or one that soothes the cog fog is huge!

[MS_Indestructible in reply to CalfeeChick]

my favorite two also, at least till I was dx with type II diabetes ~terry

[Linda3579]

There’s caffeine in chocolate! 👍😊

[greaterexp in reply to Linda3579]

Win! Win!

[janetb1968 in reply to greaterexp]

Chocolate .......fabulous 🍫🍫🍫🍫😁😁😁😁😁🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫🍫

[jimeka]

I drink decaf coffee as it really triggers off the restless leg. I only eat milk or white chocolate 🍫

[greaterexp in reply to jimeka]

It looks like milk chocolate can have a fair bit of caffeine in it, surprisingly more than dark chocolate. I only looked at one source, however.

[jimeka in reply to greaterexp]

I can tell when I have eaten the wrong type as my heart rate increases.

[Peruzzot]

I usually Don't drink coffee because I really don't like the taste. I have co-workers who like to tease me about my coffee habit with "here's your sugar with coffee" I tend to drink either Pepsi or mountain dew for my caffeine fix. It helps me stay awake but I haven't noticed any improvement with cognition.

[MS_Indestructible in reply to Peruzzot]

I feel the same with coffee as well, I use MD for a caffeine/sugar fix, till I found the caffeine tablets at a 99 cent store ~terry

[jackiesj]

Hi greaterexp!Id had no caffeine until the first spinal tap had the doc said go home and drink mt.Dew and that was first diagnosis..here we are over 15 years of trying to quit caffeine which does have effects on the entire system.Ages and dehydrates if not watched closely...one of those i wish id never started.just my opinion....

[kdali]

For sure! It's not as effective as amantadine or ketones for me, but I take all the help I can get. Before I discovered those two, I was consuiming 600mg per day.

[MarkUpnorth]

From they guy who used to fall asleep over my 2nd pot of coffee, trying to keep going back in my college days, I don't really rely on coffee or caffeine, but I will do one or two caffeine pills along with a B12, my own version of an energy drink, I guess from time to time. Sometimes, Sometimes it will give me a few extra "spoons" to work with. For cognition, back from my days of comatose life and the walking dead, prior to major focus on nutrition, I started taking bacopa, an ancient herb that is said to help cognition. Does it help? Don't know, but I've come back from the "dead". As a result, I stay focussed on nutrition, and keep taking the bacopa. I heard about it on an episode of Dr. Oz. years ago. You can research it. It doesn't cost much on-line. Relatively cheap. Bacopa Leaf. Nutrition + bacopa has helped my cognition. Am I as smart as I used to be, nope, but at least I'm not walking through life like a zombie anymore. 2+ years of zombieism was horrible. Doc's didn't even attempt that one. Just another severe case of brain fog they'd tell me. Okay, my one neuro did direct me to nutrition via the Terry Whals story. Thanks doc!

[greaterexp]

It’s encouraging to hear that you’ve found something that helps!

[MS_Indestructible]

yes, I use 600-800mg a day ~terry

[Raingrrl]

I've had coffee to drink every day since I worked a graveyard shift at 17. I don't know how much it helps me but if I don't have at least a large cup, my fatigue is worse and my thinking speed is slower. I usually drink a cup or two a day and sip it slowly. I try not to have any beyond around 4:00pm or my sleep is affected. I wouldn't be surprised if my body was addicted to this specific level of caffeine by this point. There are worse things.

[Allen5280]

I.... I.... NEED... My morning coffee! 🍵🍵 However, I have a 2 cup limit because my anxiety disorder. 😁