Major Study Connects Daily Coffee, Tea Habits to Lower Dementia Risk

YEREVAN (Azat TV) – A significant new study, published recently in the medical journal JAMA, suggests that regular moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea may play a role in reducing the risk of dementia and slowing cognitive decline. The research, which tracked over 130,000 individuals for more than four decades, provides compelling evidence that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea daily is associated with substantial brain health benefits, bringing renewed attention to the potential protective effects of these common beverages against neurodegenerative diseases.

The findings, which emerged from an extensive analysis by researchers from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, highlight a potential link between dietary habits and long-term cognitive well-being. The study’s release has sparked widespread discussion among health professionals and the public regarding lifestyle choices that could impact brain health as people age.

Dementia Risk and Daily Brews: The JAMA Study Findings

The observational study, one of the largest of its kind, meticulously analyzed data from 131,821 men and women enrolled in two major U.S. health studies, following participants for up to 43 years, from 1986 to 2023. During this extensive period, 11,033 cases of dementia were documented among the cohort. Researchers compared participants’ self-reported intake of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea with their cognitive health trajectories over time.

The results indicated that individuals who consumed approximately two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily experienced the most significant benefits for brain health, showing an 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who drank the least. Similarly, consuming one to two cups of tea per day also demonstrated a beneficial association. Notably, the study found no significant link between decaffeinated coffee intake and a reduced risk of dementia, suggesting that caffeine, or compounds associated with it, might be key to the observed protective effects.

Beyond just reducing dementia incidence, those with higher caffeinated coffee intake also reported fewer issues with memory and thinking and performed modestly better on objective cognitive tests. The researchers noted that people who drank more caffeinated coffee had significantly fewer cases of dementia—141 per 100,000 person-years—compared to 330 cases per 100,000 person-years for those who consumed the least.

Unpacking the Brain-Boosting Compounds in Coffee and Tea

Physicians and scientists are exploring the potential mechanisms behind these findings. Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician, explained that coffee contains a mix of compounds, including polyphenol antioxidants, which are widely recognized for their health benefits. He also highlighted caffeine’s specific role, noting its ability to bind to adenosine receptors, which contributes to increased alertness, and its influence on neurotransmitters like dopamine in the brain.

Other researchers suggest that coffee’s benefits may stem from phytochemicals that activate protective cellular processes, potentially improving liver metabolism. Furthermore, the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals in coffee and tea are believed to play a crucial role in reducing overall disease risk, which could indirectly contribute to brain health and cognitive preservation.

Expert Perspectives and Nuances on Coffee’s Cognitive Impact

While the study’s findings are compelling, some experts urge caution. Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor, advised taking the results ‘with a massive grain of salt,’ emphasizing that observational studies like this, while large, cannot definitively prove cause and effect. She pointed out that other underlying factors, not solely coffee consumption, could influence a person’s dementia risk.

Naveed Sattar, a professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, also noted the complexity of understanding caffeine’s true impact. While caffeine can sharpen focus and encourage physical activity, it can also temporarily elevate blood pressure, which is a known contributor to dementia risk. Experts underscore that individual responses to caffeine vary significantly, meaning that not everyone should necessarily increase their intake.

Dr. Gounder and other health professionals continue to stress the importance of a holistic approach to brain health, advocating for well-established preventive measures such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight management, and addressing conditions like hearing loss, which is also a recognized risk factor for dementia.

Global Dementia Challenge and Broader Brain Health

The potential role of common beverages like coffee and tea in dementia prevention comes at a critical time. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. There were over 55 million people living with dementia globally in 2020, a number projected to double every 20 years, reaching an estimated 78 million in 2030 and 139 million by 2050. Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide, making effective prevention strategies increasingly vital.

The new research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that everyday dietary choices could have profound long-term health implications. While the study’s observational nature means it cannot establish causality, its large scale and extensive follow-up period provide strong support for the hypothesis that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea is associated with a lower risk of dementia, warranting further interventional research to confirm these protective effects.