A long-term US study has shown an association between consuming two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily and a reduced risk of dementia, along with improvements in some indicators related to cognitive function, while decaffeinated coffee did not show a similar association with these outcomes.
The Science Daily website reported on Saturday, citing the American Physiological Society, that the study conducted by researchers from the society relied on following the data of more than 131,000 men and women in the United States over a period reaching 43 years. It showed that people who consumed larger amounts of caffeinated coffee recorded lower rates of dementia compared to those who rarely or never consumed it.
The results indicated that the incidence rate of dementia reached 141 cases per 100,000 people annually among those with high consumption of caffeinated coffee, compared to 330 cases among people who rarely drank it or did not consume it at all. It also showed that 7.8 percent of the first group reported self-declined memory and cognitive abilities, compared to 9.5 percent in the second group.
Researchers pointed out that consuming two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily was associated with the best results, while consuming one to two cups of tea daily was associated with similar positive outcomes, noting that these associations appeared regardless of the level of genetic predisposition to dementia.
In contrast, the consumption of decaffeinated coffee did not show an association with a reduced risk of dementia or improved cognitive performance, indicating the importance of conducting further research to understand the role of caffeine and other compounds found in coffee and tea in brain health.
Researchers emphasized that the results do not prove that coffee consumption directly prevents dementia, as the study is observational and relies on analyzing correlations between dietary habits and the health status of participants, and does not exclude the possibility of other factors influencing these results.
Dementia is a condition that leads to a gradual decline in mental and cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, and concentration, and affects the sufferer's ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most prominent causes.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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