EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Cognitive function is a term that refers to mental processes involving the acquiring of knowledge, manipulation of information, and reasoning. They include problem-solving, decision making, thinking, and remembering. Caffeine is a central nervous system natural stimulant. It can also be referred to as a physio active substance mostly found in beverages such as coffee and tea. Various scholars have stated that caffeine can have both positive and negative side health effects.
Firstly, caffeine impacts on metal performance by blocking neurotransmitters adenosine
receptors. These neurotransmitters are known to control diverse brain activities.
Firstly, caffeine impacts on metal performance by blocking neurotransmitters adenosine
receptors. These neurotransmitters are known to control diverse brain activities.
Firstly, caffeine impacts on metal performance by blocking neurotransmitters adenosine
receptors. These neurotransmitters are known to control diverse brain activities.
Firstly, caffeine impacts on metal performance by blocking neurotransmitters adenosine
receptors. These neurotransmitters are known to control diverse brain activities.
First of all, caffeine affects mental performance by blocking the neurotransmitter’s adenosine receptors. It is these neurotransmitters that are involved in the control of various brain activities. Caffeine is known to have the ability to block the neurotransmitter adenosine receptors. Thus as to why caffeine has been greatly considered as a cognitive enhancer. Different studies have stated that caffeine enhances one’s cognitive functionality, thus improving one’s state of alertness, concentration, awareness, attention, and other related cognitive performance.
Studies done on elderly and adult subjects concluded that caffeine improves attention span, psychomotor performance, and cognitive function, as well as and feelings of well-being in the elderly. The elderly seemed more sensitive to the protective effects of caffeine on declining mental performance over time than the younger subjects.
The consumption of caffeine is also associated with various health benefits that have been fully stated. They include the ability to control some diseases, especially the ones which affect the nervous system, for instance, neurodegenerative diseases. Research has proved that caffeine consumption leads to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Research has proved that moderate and regulated doses of caffeine are known to improve cognitive function, including vigilance, learning, memory, and mood state. When cognitive performance is considered to be a challenge and must be looked into in times of severe stress, consumption of caffeine may provide a very significant advantage. A dose of 200 mg appears to be very helpful in curbing such conditions.
However, on the other side consumption of caffeine has been reported to lead to several side effects and disorders. A repetitive factor that leads to this is due to the excessive consumption of caffeine. This trend of excessive consumption of caffeine has been reported to cause disorders and diseases which affect one’s health’s state. Recent studies have shown that both the young and adult who consume high amounts of caffeine have been found to have disorders; mainly mood and anxiety disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and alterations in their behaviour. Such negative effects pose a threat to the health of caffeine consumers, most of whom are addicted to this drug.
In conclusion, caffeine has proven to be a drug that has much nutritional value comparing it with the dangers it poses to one’s health status. These threats resulting from the consumption of caffeine can be managed or avoided if the right amounts are taken into account. Hence, it’s up to the consumer to ensure that the proper amounts are administered to avert from these dangers that caffeine consumption poses.
References
- Elmenhorst, E. M., Elmenhorst, D., Benderoth, S., Kroll, T., Bauer, A., & Aeschbach, D. (2018). Cognitive impairments by alcohol and sleep deprivation indicate trait characteristics and a potential role for adenosine A1 receptors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(31), 8009-8014.
- Nehlig, A. (2018). Interindividual differences in caffeine metabolism and factors driving caffeine consumption. Pharmacological Reviews, 70(2), 384-411.