Coffee linked to lower dementia risk in long-term study

A U.S. study of 131,821 adults followed for about 40 years found that drinking around three cups of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with a lower risk of dementia; decaffeinated coffee did not show the same link.

New research published in JAMA reports an association between caffeinated coffee and lower dementia risk. The study was led by researchers from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT. It followed 131,821 U.S. adults for about four decades and recorded 11,033 dementia cases. Researchers observed that decaffeinated coffee did not show the same relationship as caffeinated beverages. Key findings: - The study tracked 131,821 U.S. adults for four decades and documented 11,033 dementia cases. - Drinking about three cups of caffeinated coffee per day, or one to two cups of tea, was associated with lower dementia risk and more favorable cognitive outcomes over a lifetime. - Decaffeinated coffee did not show the same association as caffeinated coffee or tea. - Participants who reported more than three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had an 18% lower risk of dementia compared with those reporting little or no daily caffeinated coffee consumption. - The research team included investigators from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT, and the findings were published in JAMA. Summary: The study reports a modest association between caffeinated coffee or tea intake and lower dementia risk, and authors noted the effect size is small. Undetermined at this time.