Coffee & Tea: Your Brain's New Best Friends?

Consuming a few cups of caffeinated coffee or tea each day might contribute to preserving cognitive function and reducing the risk of dementia. A study involving over 132,000 U.S. adults found that individuals with the highest daily intake of caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with the lowest intake.

This research, published in JAMA, also noted that high tea consumption showed similar benefits. The findings were most pronounced with two to three cups of coffee or one to two cups of tea daily. Researchers suggest that bioactive ingredients like caffeine and polyphenols may play a role by reducing inflammation and nerve cell damage, although the exact mechanisms require further investigation.

While these results are promising, experts stress that the observed effect is small. They reiterate that other well-established lifestyle choices, such as regular physical exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep, are vital for maintaining cognitive health throughout aging. The study indicated that coffee's benefits extended to individuals regardless of their genetic predisposition to dementia.