Excessive Coffee Consumption Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline, Study Finds

USA: A recent study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2024 revealed that drinking over three cups of coffee daily may accelerate cognitive decline, according to a large study.

Researchers explored how varying amounts of coffee and tea affect fluid intelligence, which encompasses cognitive abilities like abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and logical thinking. They revealed that moderate coffee consumption served as a protective factor against cognitive decline.

Cognitive development refers to the progression of mental processes and abilities that allow individuals to acquire, process, and use knowledge and information. Tea and coffee, both rich in caffeine and antioxidants, can influence cognitive development and function in various ways. Both of these are beneficial in the short term and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases over time. Observational and epidemiologic studies indicate that the consumption of coffee and tea has a beneficial effect on stroke, heart failure, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. Considering this, Pauline Anderson, et al conducted a study to evaluate the cognitive function at baseline with an additional two patient visits.

For this purpose, the research team investigated the relationship between coffee and tea intake and cognitive decline over time in a larger sample of older adults. They divided the coffee and tea consumption into tertiles: high, moderate, and no consumption.

To conduct the research, the researchers included 8451 individuals, from UK Biobank which includes 60% females and 97% white cognitively impaired adults and are older than 60 years. All the subjects had a body mass index of 26, and 26% were apolipoprotein epsilon 4 gene carriers.

They found the following results: -

• 18% reported daily consumption of coffee drinking as high consumption ( four or more cups), 58% reported drinking one to three cups in a day and considered as moderate consumption and 25% reported that they never drink coffee.

• 47% reported drinking four or more cups of tea in a day and considered as high consumption, 38% reported drinking one to three cups in a day considered as moderate consumption and 15 % reported that they never drink tea.

• After 8.83 years of monitoring, individuals who drank four or more cups of coffee a day experienced a slower decrease in fluid intelligence compared to those who never drank coffee and those with moderate coffee consumption.

• During the follow-up period, individuals with high coffee consumption experienced the most rapid decline in fluid intelligence compared to those with moderate coffee consumption and those who never drank coffee.

• Moderate coffee consumption appears to offer a degree of protection against cognitive decline.

• Individuals who never drank tea experienced a greater decline in fluid intelligence compared to those who consumed it moderately or heavily.

“Consumption of coffee and tea may offer a safe and affordable approach to delaying the onset and lowering the risk of Alzheimer's disease”, the researchers concluded.