Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.

A vital barrier between the brain and the main blood supply of rabbits fed a fat-rich diet was protected in those given a caffeine supplement.

UK experts said it was the “best evidence yet” of coffee’s benefits.

The drink has already been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease, and a study by a US team for the Journal of Neuroinflammation may explain why.

The spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society said, “This is the best evidence yet that caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee a day can help protect the brain against cholesterol.

“In addition to its effect on the vascular system, elevated cholesterol levels also cause problems with the blood brain barrier.”

One cup of coffee a day is all we need.