Too much coffee ?? A new Australian study has revealed that while moderate coffee and tea intake may protect brain functions in older adults, drinking more than three cups of coffee a day could lead to faster cognitive decline. The research, led by Kelsey Sewell from Murdoch University, was presented at the 2024 International Alzheimer’s Association Conference (AAIC).
What does the study reveal?
The large-scale research analyzed 8,451 adults aged 60 and older, mostly women, from the UK Biobank, a resource with detailed genetic and health information. Participants were divided into three groups based on their coffee and tea consumption: high, moderate, and non-consumers.
Among coffee drinkers, 18% reported consuming more than four cups per day (high consumption), 58% drank between one and three cups (moderate consumption), and 25% never drank coffee. Regarding tea, 47% reported high consumption, 38% drank moderate amounts, and 15% did not consume tea.
Researchers evaluated cognitive performance by looking at fluid intelligence, which includes abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and logical thinking. These cognitive abilities were measured at the start of the study and at least twice more throughout the follow-up period.
The key is balance
While both coffee and tea appear to have protective effects on cognitive functions, the study stressed the importance of not overdoing it. Drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may undo the benefits. In fact, the findings suggest that not drinking coffee at all could be more beneficial than consuming more than four cups daily.
On the other hand, tea consumption presented a different outcome. Higher tea intake resulted in better cognitive performance than moderate or no consumption.
Sewell explained: “The old saying goes that too much of anything isn’t good. Coffee is no exception—moderation is key.” She added that participants with the highest coffee consumption saw the sharpest decline in fluid intelligence over time. Those who drank coffee in moderation, however, displayed protective effects against cognitive decline during the follow-up.
Given that this is an observational study, Sewell emphasized the need for randomized controlled trials to better understand the neuroprotective mechanism behind coffee consumption.
Could it prevent Alzheimer’s?
When asked how moderate coffee intake could potentially protect against cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, Sewell responded that multiple mechanisms might be at play, possibly even at the molecular level.
She expressed hope that this line of research will lead to the development of affordable, accessible prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s. “We believe that coffee and tea consumption could contribute to developing an effective, low-cost strategy to delay the onset and lower the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.
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