Daily Coffee May Help Lower Dementia Risk
Lindsay Knake
| 3 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
Key Takeaways
- A JAMA study of more than 130,000 U.S. adults found that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day was linked to an 18% lower risk of dementia compared with little or no coffee.
- Similar cognitive benefits were observed for one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily; researchers say caffeine and polyphenols may help reduce inflammation and cellular damage.
- Health experts say up to 400 mg of caffeine—about four cups of coffee—is safe for most adults, but it should be part of a broader lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and other dementia‑risk‑reduction habits.
Your daily coffee may help reduce your risk of developing dementia, according to a new study.
The JAMA study, published in February, looked at the diets and dementia diagnoses of more than 130,000 people in the United States. Let’s look at the study, the results and what you can do to reduce your risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
Daily coffee and dementia risk
Dementia is a term that describes many types of progressive brain disorders that lead to declined cognition and problems with memory, language, communication and decision-making. About 4% of adults in the U.S. age 65 and older have been diagnosed with dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for 60% to 80% of dementia cases. While some types of dementia are hereditary, there are lifestyle factors and habits that can help reduce your risk of dementia. Coffee and tea may be two of them.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard examined data from 131,821 people in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. In the long-term health study, participants took assessments of their diet, dementia, subjective cognitive decline, and objective cognitive function every two to four years for up to 43 years.
In the JAMA study, researchers looked at their coffee and tea consumption and dementia diagnoses. About 11,000 of the nearly 132,000 participants developed dementia during the Nurses’ Health Study.
Drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea each day showed the most cognitive benefits. Those who had the highest intake of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to the participants who drank little or no caffeinated coffee. The results were similar with higher caffeinated tea intake compared to decaffeinated tea or no tea.
Researchers noted caffeine may be part of reducing the risk of dementia, although they noted more research is needed. Both coffee and tea also have polyphenols, which may help reduce inflammation and cellular damage and protect against cognitive decline.
Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine each day is generally safe for most adults, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This equals about four cups of coffee. But children younger than 12 shouldn’t have any caffeine, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Other health benefits of coffee and tea
One of the most popular beverages in the world, nearly three-quarters of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee per day. About half of Americans have tea each day.
Both coffee and tea are generally healthy drinks for most people; coffee consumption is connected to reduced risk of:
- Colon cancer
- Depression
- Kidney disease
- Liver cancer and disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
Tea, including black and green tea, are connected to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Healthy blood vessel function
- Healthy immune system
- Cardiovascular health
Be mindful of how you take your cup of coffee or tea, especially from a café or store as they can contain a lot of sugar.
Other ways to help prevent dementia include:
- Eating a nutritious diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
- Limit or avoid alcohol.
- Get about 150 minutes of exercise per week, or 30 minutes, five days a week.
- Get seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
- Manage anxiety and stress.
- Keep your brain engaged and continue learning as you age.
- Stay social and maintain relationships with loved ones and friends.
- Get annual physicals and recommended screenings.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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