I am sensitive to caffeine, how can I explain it? A neurologist answers

For many people, it’s impossible to start the day without a good cup of coffee. However, it seems that we are not all equal when it comes to caffeine. Indeed, while some people can drink coffee until late in the evening, others are forced to stop early in the day, at the risk of disrupting their sleep. In a video, a neurologist discussed this difference in sensitivity to caffeine.

As a big fan of coffee, have you ever drunk a cup of it in the evening before going to bed and then spent a sleepless night? If so, it’s probably due to your sensitivity to caffeine. In a video posted on Instagram, doctor and neurologist Olivier Sillam discussed the impact of coffee on sleep, but also the differences in sensitivity to caffeine.

Why does caffeine prevent you from sleeping?

Coffee, tea, guarana berries… The caffeine is a chemical compound naturally found in many plants. According to the neurologist, this acts on sleep by “blocking an adenosine receptor”. However, this is a neurotransmitter, that is to say a chemical messenger of the brain essential for sleep, since according to the doctor, “it will notably induce the sleepiness”. In addition, when activated, adenosine also helps reduce serotonin and dopamine. Thus, we understand that when “caffeine blocks adenosine in the brain, an awakening effect is observed”. Caffeine also has an effect “boosting mood”, according to the specialist, since it increases dopamine.

Why is sensitivity to caffeine different in different individuals?

As the neurologist explains in his video, this difference in sensitivity to caffeine is partly genetic. Indeed, according to him, “some people express their adenosine receptor more strongly and are therefore more sensitive to caffeine, while others will express it less”. The second reason for this difference in sensitivity concerns caffeine metabolism. According to the expert, “certain people will express more cytochrome (enzyme which will participate in the breakdown of caffeine), while others will express it less”.

Thus, for the same dose of coffee consumed, some people will have higher levels of caffeine lasting longer, while others will have much lower levels of caffeine, reveals the neurologist. “There are therefore many differences in sensitivity to caffeine, and this is why some people feel much less stimulated after drinking coffee than others”he concludes.