Your morning coffee or afternoon tea might be doing more than just waking you up; it could be helping keep your brain sharp.
New findings suggest that moderate coffee and tea consumption are linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults. The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, found that moderate coffee intake and moderate to high tea intake may help preserve reasoning and memory skills over time.
The Brain-Boosting Connection
Cognitive decline, a growing concern for aging populations, can be influenced by lifestyle factors. Coffee and tea, brimming with compounds like caffeine, flavonoids, and polyphenols, are thought to support brain health through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Coffee boasts chlorogenic acids, while tea offers theanine and catechins, all potentially beneficial for the brain.
Previous studies have hinted at these benefits, with some research linking up to 2.5 cups of coffee daily to a lower risk of cognitive disorders. For tea, each extra cup per day was associated with an 11% reduction in risk. However, human studies have yielded mixed results, possibly due to variations in study design and analysis.
Did you know? Coffee contains chlorogenic acids, while tea is rich in theanine and catechins, compounds that may support cognitive function.
Inside the Study
Researchers examined data from 8,715 participants in the UK, aged 60 to 85, who were free from dementia at the study’s start. Over an average of 9.11 years, their cognitive performance was tracked. Individuals with certain medical conditions or medications, or who consumed more than 14 units of alcohol weekly, were excluded.
Participants reported their coffee and tea intake from the previous year, categorizing it as never, moderate (one to three cups daily), or high (more than four cups daily). Cognitive tests measured fluid intelligence, reaction time, numeric memory, and visual memory through pair-matching errors.
To ensure the most accurate results, the study controlled for factors like age, sex, ethnicity, education, body mass index, and genetic predisposition. Cognitive changes were analyzed over time, and data were adjusted for potential confounding variables.
Key Findings Unpacked
The study revealed a significant link between beverage consumption and changes in fluid intelligence. Those who never drank coffee or consumed it moderately showed a slower decline in reasoning and problem-solving skills compared to heavy coffee drinkers (more than four cups daily). These moderate coffee drinkers also had better visual memory preservation.
For tea drinkers, both moderate and high intake were associated with a slower decline in fluid intelligence compared to non-tea drinkers. These findings held up even after statistical corrections for multiple comparisons.
- Moderate coffee and tea intake are linked to slower cognitive decline.
- High coffee consumption (4+ cups daily) may be associated with a faster decline.
- Both moderate and high tea intake showed benefits for fluid intelligence.
- Moderate coffee intake also benefited visual memory.
Essentially, enjoying one to three cups of coffee daily, or any amount of tea, seems to offer protective benefits for certain aspects of cognitive function in older adults. Conversely, consuming four or more cups of coffee daily was linked to a quicker decline in cognitive abilities.
What This Means for You
The study reinforces the idea that moderate coffee and tea consumption could be valuable habits for maintaining cognitive health as we age. While these results are promising, it’s important to note that the data relied on self-reported intake, and factors like preparation methods or specific tea types weren’t detailed.
Researchers suggest caffeine might play a role, explaining why tea, with its generally lower caffeine content, didn’t show an upper limit for its beneficial effects. More research, including clinical trials, is needed to solidify these findings and understand the precise mechanisms at play.
