Morning Coffee May Lower Dementia Risk, Large Harvard Study Suggests
Your daily cup of coffee or tea could be doing more than simply waking you up. New research suggests that moderate consumption of caffeinated beverages in midlife may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.
The findings, recently published in JAMA, are based on data from more than 130,000 participants tracked for decades through two major long-term health studies in the United States.
What the Study Found
Researchers observed that individuals who drank two to three cups of coffee per day had about an 18 percent lower risk of developing dementia later in life. Those who consumed one to two cups of tea daily showed a 14 percent lower risk.
Importantly, the same protective association was not found in people who chose decaffeinated coffee or tea. This suggests that caffeine itself may play a key role in supporting long-term cognitive health.
Dr. Daniel Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, led the research and highlighted that moderate caffeinated beverage intake during midlife was consistently associated with better brain health outcomes over time.
Why Caffeine Might Support Brain Function
Although the study does not prove that caffeine directly prevents dementia, experts believe there are plausible biological explanations. Caffeine may improve blood circulation to the brain, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidant benefits. Coffee and tea also contain other compounds that may contribute to healthier aging.
Dr. David Kao, the Jacqueline Marie Schauble Leaffer Endowed Chair in Women’s Heart Disease and associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, who was not involved in the research, said the findings are reassuring. He explained that the evidence does not suggest people need to eliminate their morning coffee for fear of harming their long-term health.
A Word of Caution
The researchers emphasized that the study was observational. This means it identified a connection between caffeine intake and dementia risk but cannot confirm that caffeine directly caused the reduced risk.
Other lifestyle factors may also influence the results. For example, coffee and tea drinkers might follow healthier diets, have higher education levels, or engage in mentally stimulating habits that contribute to better cognitive outcomes.
Experts advise moderation rather than increasing caffeine intake dramatically. Adding excessive caffeine is not recommended as a strategy to prevent dementia.
The Bottom Line
Moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea in midlife may be linked to a lower risk of dementia later on. While more research is needed to confirm cause and effect, current evidence suggests you likely do not need to cut out your daily cup for the sake of brain health.
For millions of people, that morning routine may come with an unexpected long-term benefit.
