Discoveries in neuroscience suggest that habitual caffeine intake, prevalent in coffee and tea, may impact the brain’s plasticity. Caffeine, a known adenosine receptor antagonist, influences processes crucial for learning and memory, like long-term potentiation (LTP). Preliminary studies hint that chronic caffeine consumption might reduce LTP-like plasticity in the brain, potentially affecting the effectiveness of treatments like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). These findings, based on a small-scale study, emphasize the need for more extensive research to comprehend the broader implications of regular caffeine use on cognitive functions. As caffeine remains a global daily ritual for many, this research prompts a closer look at its intricate relationship with our brain’s fundamental mechanisms. Source: Neuroscience News.
