Your daily coffee habit could be doing more for your brain than you realize. If your morning routine starts with a cup of coffee (or two, or even three), knowing your brain will benefit, you’ll probably keep doing it. Recent research suggests that drinking 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of dementia.
A group of Harvard scientists studied more than 131,000 people drinking coffee over 40 years. During that time, they tracked coffee and tea consumption every two to four years and documented more than 11,000 cases of dementia.
People who drank the most caffeinated coffee had an 18 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who drank the least. Tea drinkers had a 14 percent lower risk. And the benefits followed a positive pattern: Moderate intake (about 2 to 3 cups of coffee or 1 to 2 cups of tea per day) showed the strongest association of coffee and brain health.
Regarding decaffeinated coffee, it did not show a significant relationship with the risk of dementia. That suggests that caffeine itself might be doing something useful, possibly reducing neuroinflammation and supporting the brain’s ability to eliminate harmful proteins and cells linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The polyphenols in both coffee and tea (potent antioxidant compounds) can also play that decisive role.
So if you already enjoy coffee or tea, consider continuing to drink it always. And remember these other tips to support your brain health: regular exercise, quality sleep, a balanced diet, and staying well connected socially. Your coffee is another addition.
Roberto Cabezas is a specialist in fitness, CrossFit, bodybuilding, training material, nutrition and sports supplementation at Men’s Health Spain. Graduated in Journalism from the Faculty of Information Sciences in Madrid, I have always liked sports. I played soccer, I practiced karate, tennis and now I am passionate about paddle tennis and training in the gym. I firmly believe that leading a healthy life, eating well and exercising daily, is essential for both the body and our mental health. And I encourage you to combat stress with fitness training through exercise routines.
One of my hobbies is shopping for food because I love eating, especially meat, but also fruit and healthy desserts. I don’t miss my daily protein shake and to recommend, try the peanut butter with banana, this is one of many of the recommendations that you can find among the nutrition content in which I write and discuss topics such as creatine, whey protein among others.
Professionally, before joining the Healthy Unit of Hearst Magazines, I spent almost 20 years in the magazines Teleindiscreta, TP and Supertele, of the same company, where I learned to be a journalist. Before, I went through an economic consulting firm and a women’s website. More hobbies? Reading, music, movies, series and playing with my children. Live and let live!
