New Study Unveils Caffeine's Brain Impact

For numerous Americans, starting the day with a cup of coffee or tea is an everyday tradition. Recent studies indicate that this long-standing practice could also be associated with the way the brain changes as people grow older.

Abig, long-term study published in JAMA on Monday, February 9,investigated the link between coffee intake and the likelihood of developing dementia, tracking nurses and medical professionals over a period exceeding four decades.

Scientists followed 131,821 individuals from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study from 1980 to 2023, recording 11,033 instances of dementia. Participants provided information about their coffee and tea consumption every two years, enabling researchers to examine long-term trends instead of temporary behaviors.

The results indicated that individuals who frequently drank coffee or tea containing caffeine were less likely to develop dementia than those who consumed very little or no caffeine beverages.

The most significant link was found in individuals who consumed around 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily or 1 to 2 cups of tea each day. Consuming higher amounts did not result in further advantages.

During the entire follow-up period, individuals who regularly consumed caffeine had an 18 percent reduced likelihood of developing dementia. This link stayed stable regardless of genetic risk factors, such as the APOE4 gene, which is linked to a higher chance of dementia.

However, decaffeinated coffee did not demonstrate the same advantages. Scientists observed no notable decrease in the risk of dementia among those who consumed decaf, and high intake of decaf was linked to increased self-reported memory issues, indicating that caffeine might play a crucial role.

The research also discovered that increased consumption of coffee containing caffeine was linked to reduced instances of perceived cognitive decline. In women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study, greater caffeine consumption was connected to marginally improved results on standardized cognitive tests, such as those measuring memory and mental processing conducted over the phone.

Experts warned that the research was observational and does not confirm that caffeine can ward off dementia. Additional lifestyle elements, including consistent physical activity, control of diabetes, and general heart health, remain significant in the aging of the brain.

Nevertheless, the researchers found that consuming moderate amounts of coffee or tea with caffeine was linked to a reduced risk of dementia and slightly improved cognitive results over time.

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