The study included more than 86,000 female participants in the Nurses\u2019 Health Study from 1980 to 2023, and more than 45,000 male participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study from 1983 to 2023. The female participants began the study at an average age of 46, and the average age for the male participants was 54. <\/p>\n
To evaluate associations between coffee and tea and cognitive health, researchers collected food frequency questionnaires from the participants every two to four years.<\/p>\n
The results showed that there were more than 11,000 cases of dementia among the participants, but that higher caffeinated coffee intake was significantly associated with lower dementia risk and a lower prevalence of subjective cognitive decline. Higher coffee intake was also associated with better objective cognitive performance among participants in the Nurses\u2019 Health Study. A higher intake of caffeinated tea was associated with similar cognitive outcomes. <\/p>\n
As for how much coffee and tea made a difference, researchers noted that the most significant association with lower dementia risk and a lower prevalence of cognitive decline was seen with participants who consumed moderate levels of coffee or tea \u2014 or \u201capproximately 2 to 3 cups per day of caffeinated coffee or 1 to 2 cups per day of tea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Researchers found that people with the highest daily intake of coffee compared to those with the lowest intake were at a 18% lower risk of developing dementia. The results were similar for those who drank caffeinated tea, Reuters reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n The study found that decaffeinated coffee was not associated with lower dementia risk or better cognitive performance.<\/p>\n Eko Prasetyo via Getty Images<\/p>\n A long-term study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that drinking moderate amounts of caffeinated coffee or tea every day was associated with lower dementia risk. <\/p>\n Yu Zhang of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a lead author of the study, cautioned that the research doesn\u2019t prove that caffeine directly lowers your risk of dementia. <\/p>\n \u201cOur study alone can\u2019t prove causality, but to our knowledge, it is the best evidence to date looking at coffee and tea intake and cognitive health, and it is consistent with plausible biology,\u201d Zhang told The Guardian<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think of coffee or tea as a magic shield,\u201d Zhang added. \u201cI\u2019d say maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting regular exercise, having a balanced diet and getting good sleep are all important to get better brain health.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Kellyann Niotis, a preventive neurologist who was not involved in the study, told NBC News<\/a> that it\u2019s important to consider that it\u2019s \u201creally a big challenge to disentangle the effects of coffee as a whole from all of the other compounds that are also in coffee \u2014 and tea.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely possible that these other compounds are interacting with each other, or synergistically with the caffeine itself, to exert some benefit,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Research has shown that physical and mental activities<\/a> may play an important role in reducing your risk for dementia, but that it\u2019s also important to consider your diet. <\/p>\n For example, a study <\/a>published in the journal Neurology last year found that eating processed red meat was linked to a higher chance<\/a> of developing dementia or experiencing cognitive decline.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/69b19844170000a6e82b1a73.jpeg\")
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