August 1/Orlando, Fla./International News Network -- A new Alzheimer’s study by University of South Florida researchers has found that a yet unidentified component of coffee that interacts with the beverage’s caffeine boosts blood levels of a critical growth factor that seems to fight off the Alzheimer’s disease process.

Using mice bred to develop symptoms mimicking Alzheimer’s disease, the USF team presented the first evidence that a caffeinated coffee offers protection against the memory-robbing disease that is not possible with other caffeine-containing drinks or decaffeinated coffee.