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Effects of caffeine on the brain – publication of the High School Journalism Workshop

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2022/01/31/15/18/coffee-6984075_1280.jpg, Royalty Free Stock Photo

All of us coffee drinkers love a cup in the morning to wake up! But did you know it can affect your nervous system?

Indeed, caffeine improves the energy metabolism throughout the brain, giving you the feeling of being energized. However, caffeine decreases the blood flow in the brain, resulting in the hypoperfusion of the brain (A. Nehlig, 1992). Hypoperfusion means that there is an inadequate blood flow to the brain (#MEPEDIA, s.d.), causing lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, and more. (Novak, 2018). This is counterproductive as we expect our morning cup of coffee to wake us up and feel energy, which is happening for a short period. But on the long-term, it can make us more tired than make us energized. Although, it seems that coffee, and thus caffeine, makes us happy. Indeed, studies showed that caffeine affect the release of dopamine, the hormone responsible for us feeling rewarded (A. Nehlig, 1992).

Overall, caffeine has both positive and negative effects as it allow us to wake up on the short-run and sense a feel of happiness, but it can actually make us more tired on the long run accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms such as dizziness.

Emma C.

Works cited :

  1. #MEPEDIA. (n.d.). Cerebral hypoperfusion. Retrieved from #MEPEDIA: https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_hypoperfusion#:~:text=Cerebral%20hypoperfusion%20is%20inadequate%20blood,is%20linked%20to%20neurocognitive%20disorders.
  2. Nehlig, J. L. (1992, August 17). Caffeine and the central nervous system: mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects. Retrieved from National Library of Medecine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1356551/#:~:text=Caffeine%20increases%20energy%20metabolism%20throughout,the%20local%20release%20of%20dopamine.
  3. Novak, P. (2018, September 26). Hypocapnic cerebral hypoperfusion: A biomarker of orthostatic intolerance. Retrieved from National Library of Medecine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6157889/#:~:text=Typical%20symptoms%20include%20lightheadedness%2C%20dizziness,and%20sympathetic%20overactivity%20%5B2%5D.