Faculty Collaboration Database

ALSUntangled #70: caffeine. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023 Jun 08:1-5

Date

06/08/2023

Pubmed ID

37288776

DOI

10.1080/21678421.2023.2220742

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85161604211 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)

Abstract

ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off-label treatments for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS). Here, we review caffeine which has plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression. However, pre-clinical studies are contradictory, and a large case series showed no relationship between caffeine intake and ALS progression rate. While low doses of caffeine are safe and inexpensive, higher doses can cause serious side effects. At this time, we cannot endorse caffeine as a treatment to slow ALS progression.

Author List

Hatch J, Barkhaus P, Barnes B, Beauchamp M, Benatar M, Bertorini T, Bowser R, Bromberg M, Brown A, Mascias Cadavid J, Carter GT, Cole N, Crayle J, Dimachkie M, Ennist D, Feldman E, Fullam T, Heiman-Patterson T, Jhooty S, Levine T, Li X, Lund I, Mallon E, Maragakis N, McDermott C, Pattee G, Pierce K, Ratner D, Staats K, Wicks P, Wiedau M, Bedlack R

Author

Paul E. Barkhaus MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin