A cup of coffee is what millions of us rely on to kick-start the day. But new research shows that morning pick-me-up has a much more potent effect on the brain if it is taken with sugar. Scientists at the University of Barcelona in Spain found taking caffeine and sugar at the same time boosted the brain’s performance more than taking them on their own.Researchers now believe each one boosts the effect of the other on brain functions such as attention span and working memory.

　　我们都知道，一杯香浓的咖啡可以让白领每日开始工作的时候神清气爽，咖啡能提神的作用一直得到人们认同。近日，有来自西班牙的科学家为“咖啡提神”提供新证据，他们证实咖啡加糖可以加速大脑活动、集中注意力、显著提高记忆力。

　　The findings come from brain scans carried out on 40 volunteers who were tested after they had coffee with sugar, coffee without sugar, sugar on its own or just plain water. The results, published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, suggest sugar-sweetened coffee may be the best way to prepare the brain for a busy day ahead. But it’s likely that coffee lovers who do not take sugar will get the same benefits from enjoying a sugary snack with their drink.

　　科学家做实验，让40位志愿者分别饮用了有糖咖啡、无糖咖啡、糖、以及纯净水，然后提取了他们的脑部扫描图。科学家发现饮用有糖咖啡的人精力充沛，活力四射。此外，即使喜欢喝苦咖啡（无糖咖啡）的人同样可以精力充沛，只要他们喝咖啡的时候搭配点心就可以了。

　　Previous studies have even suggested three cups of a coffee a day can significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, possibly by triggering a chain reaction in the brain that prevents the damage done by the disease. It’s also well known that glucose, a type of sugar, is the main fuel which brain cells need to function properly.

　　有报道显示，每人每日三杯咖啡，有助于减少患上“老年痴呆症”的机率。此外我们也得知，葡萄糖也是大脑能正常运行的“营养剂”，“咖啡和糖”两者的完美结合是不是最佳搭配我们还不能下定论，然而这个研究的确给热爱咖啡的人们带来了太多安慰。