That mainstay of scientific advancement, the serendipitous discovery, has revealed a promising new treatment for ischaemic stroke. The chance combination of caffeine and alcohol in the lab of James Grotta at the Houston Medical School, University of Texas, prevents up to 80% of the brain damage caused by stroke in rats.

Grotta explained that “One of my laboratory workers, Roger Strong, was musing about the fact that moderate or mild use of alcohol can be effective in reducing the effect of stroke. So we started fooling around with combinations of it with other things ... and we stumbled on this” (HealthScoutNews, Switzerland, 10 April 2003).

Dubbed 'caffeinol', the new combination has been used to treat 23 patients, 13 of which showed significant neurological improvement. In this small trial, no side effects were associated with its use. Importantly, caffeinol can be administered in combination with clot-busting drugs.

“We are at the phase where we think that the combination is more effective than any other drugs you look at in the laboratory, particular for strokes that affect the cortex — the grey matter of the brain that controls language and other abilities,” said Grotta. “Often, it is the part of the brain that hangs in the balance after a stroke” (Health24 News, South Africa, 11 April 2003).

Caffeinol is administered intravenously and — as with other stroke treatments — the earlier treatment commences, the better. So, to those stroke sufferers that might be tempted to self-medicate with a wee dram and a short black, doctors issue this warning: “No one who is having a stroke should take either caffeine or alcohol and ... people should get to the hospital immediately” (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, 14 April 2003).