Is The Impact Of Caffeine On Cognitive Performance Influenced By Our Genetics?
A 2020 randomized crossover study investigated the effect of caffeine on cognitive performance.
The participants were split into groups based on their CYP1A2 genotype.
Participants were categorized as either AA homozygotes (‘fast’ caffeine metabolizers) or carriers of the C allele (i.e., AC heterozygotes and CC homozygotes - ‘slow’ caffeine metabolizers).
After consuming 3mg/kg bodyweight of caffeine (or a placebo) participants completed a 10 minute psychomotor vigilance test.
The researchers were interested in testing sustained attention, which they measured using mean reaction time during the test.
Results revealed that caffeine improved cognitive performance, with faster mean reaction times, compared with a placebo.
However, caffeine enhanced the cognitive performance of ‘fast’ metabolizers more than ‘slow’ metabolizers.
Caffeine is a potent adenosine receptor antagonist. It blocks the actions of adenosine in the central nervous system, thereby enhancing arousal and vigilance.
The researchers note that a possible mechanism to explain the effects on cognitive performance in ‘fast’ metabolizers could be a greater availability of caffeine metabolites within the central nervous system.
References
PMID: 32356023
