Coffee Can Reduce Parkinson's Disease Risk (Depending on Your Genes)

Swedish researchers have discovered the epigenetics of caffeine on Parkinson’s Disease (PD) risk. Epigenetics is the field of study where environmental factors, including diet, can alter the expression of genes (turn them on or off).

The study identified that when combined with a high caffeine intake (over 237.8 mg/day via coffee consumption), those with the CC-type variant of the GRIN2A gene saw a 47% reduction in PD risk. There was a dose-response curve and risk reduction increased to 58% with 200 - 400 mg of caffeine daily, 80% with 400 – 600 mg/day, and leveled off at 79% with  more than 600 mg/day.

Bacopa's Antioxidant Benefits

Here's a new study that adds weight to one of Bacopa's mechanism of action (Bacopa is a botanical used for 1000s of years in traditional medicine in India). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a major free-radical produced during oxidative stress and is toxic to the cells. Hence, H2O2 has been extensively used to study the effects of antioxidant and cytoprotective role of phytochemicals. In this new study, H2O2 was used to induce oxidative stress via free-radical production, and the protective effects of Bacopa were investigated.