The surprise impact your morning coffee could be having on your body

Health & Fitness
12 May 2026 • 7:50 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

The surprise impact your morning coffee could be having on your body

  • A new study suggests that caffeine may alter how the brain responds to touch and body movements.
  • Researchers investigated how a 200mg dose of caffeine affects short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI), a brain process that filters sensory input for smooth movements.
  • The study, involving 20 healthy adults, found that caffeine enhanced SAI, increasing the brain's ability to restrict muscle responses after a touch.
  • Scientists believe caffeine achieves this by blocking adenosine receptor proteins, leading to an increase in acetylcholine, a chemical messenger vital for sensory and muscle control.
  • These findings offer insights into caffeine's physiological actions and its potential relevance to neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

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