If you drink 2-3 cups of coffee every day, Dementia riskaccording to a new observational study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
American researchers analyzed 40 years of data from more than 130,000 doctors and nurses and found that it contains moderate amounts of caffeine. coffee and tea According to SWNS, consuming it may reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
The analysis found that participants who consumed the most caffeinated coffee not only had a lower risk of dementia, but that there also appeared to be a “sweet spot” where caffeinated coffee was most effective.
Scientists reveal just one habit that can prevent age-related dementia
Previous research on the relationship between coffee and dementia has been inconsistent due to limited follow-up data. To address this, researchers used information from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Care Worker Tracking Study to track health care workers from middle age to old age.
Over a follow-up period of up to 43 years, the team analyzed self-reported data. meal pattern It is collected through a survey conducted every four years.
This longitudinal approach allowed the scientists to account for changes in coffee and tea consumption over time while monitoring both the clinical diagnosis of dementia and subtle changes in cognitive function.
By adjusting for variables such as smoking, physical activity, and underlying medical conditions. health conditionresearchers were able to isolate a specific relationship between caffeine intake and long-term brain health, SWNS noted.
Of the 131,821 participants in the longitudinal analysis, 11,033 developed dementia.
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The analysis revealed that participants who consumed the most caffeinated coffee had an 18% lower risk of dementia than those who reported consuming little or no coffee.
These participants also performed better on tests of overall cognitive function, the report notes. Higher intakes of tea produced similar results, but decaffeinated coffee did not, suggesting that caffeine was likely the culprit. neuroprotective factors.
The effects on cognitive function were most pronounced in people who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea each day.
Dementia affects more than 6 million Americans and 55 million people worldwide, and the National Institutes of Health reports that it kills more than 100,000 people in the United States each year.
Experts stress that early prevention is key, as current treatments are only marginally effective once symptoms appear. This led scientists to investigate its specific role. Lifestyle factors Playing with reduced cognitive function.
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“When we were exploring potential dementia prevention tools, we thought something as ubiquitous as coffee could have promising potential. dietary intervention” Daniel Wang, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and lead study author, said in a SWNS press release.
Both coffee and tea contain bioactive components such as polyphenols and caffeine, which may reduce inflammation and cell damage while preventing cognitive decline. Researchers call these properties “neuroprotective.”
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In contrast to some previous studies, increased caffeine intake did not produce any negative effects. Instead, it had consistent neuroprotective effects, even in people with: high genetic predisposition According to SWNS, this disease has an impact.
Despite the encouraging findings, Wang cautioned that the effect size was small and should be considered just one of many ways to protect cognitive health as we age.
