A shockingly high number of daily cups of coffee later in life could prevent dementia for millions of people, research suggests
Brits with a common heart problem may not have to worry about their caffeine intake later in life, as up to five brews a day could reduce their risk of dementia.
Scientists at the University Hospital of Basel in Switzerland found that people over 65 with an irregular heart rhythm were less likely to experience memory-robbing symptoms if they were heavy coffee drinkers.
Participants who drank an average of more than two brews per day also had lower levels of inflammatory blood markers linked to the degenerative disease, compared to those who drank less.
Speaking about the findings, the researchers said the protective effect may be due to the fact that the caffeine in coffee reduces oxidative stress – an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body that normally fight infections.
The study authors also suggested that caffeine reduces the build-up of amyloid – a protein that clumps together to form plaques – and reduces inflammation and cell death in the brain, which may reduce the risk of dementia.
But the Alzheimer’s Society explains that this has only been proven in mice and not in humans, meaning the link is still uncertain.
It follows previous studies showing the benefits of caffeine in old age.
An Italian study A 2023 study found that espresso extracts reduced build-up of the toxic protein tau – which fuels dementia – when mixed with brain samples in petri dishes.
Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day may be enough to reduce the risk of cognitive decline, especially in people with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are vulnerable to the disease
Another one study A 2021 study found that people who drank two to three cups of coffee and two to three cups of tea per day had a 28 percent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not drink any cups.
For the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, experts recruited 2,413 older adults over age 65 with atrial fibrillation (AF).
AF affects 1.5 million Britons and causes random electrical impulses from the upper chambers of the heart (atria), causing the heart rhythm to become irregular.
The condition is also known to increase the risk of cognitive decline, as it can increase the risk of stroke, which can cause vascular dementia – a form of dementia caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, explains the British Heart Foundation out.
Participants were given a dietary questionnaire and asked to self-report how much coffee they drank per day.
They also underwent neurocognitive testing using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which asks participants to name animals and write down the date and time, and is used to recognize signs of dementia.
Blood tests were also done to measure levels of inflammation in the body, which are used to assess the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Excessive inflammation is also thought to play a role in causing dementia by causing the death of brain cells, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. The disease can cause anxiety, confusion and short-term memory loss
The outcomes were combined to calculate a ‘cognitive construct score’, which reflected the neurocognitive tests, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and the blood test.
The results showed that those who drank the highest amount of coffee – around five a day – scored twice as high as those who drank just one cup.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment score results were also higher among those who drank two to three cups of coffee per day compared to those who drank one.
In addition, blood tests revealed a decrease in the protein interleukin-6, an inflammatory marker, in the blood with increasing coffee consumption.
High levels of this protein in the blood indicate inflammation: the immune system’s response to injury or infection.
While inflammation can be a good thing because it causes damage or infection, it can cause problems if it lasts for a long time and does not go away.
Common signs of inflammation in the body include fever, brain fog, and swelling.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, excessive inflammation is thought to cause dementia by causing nerve cell death.
“Coffee consumption in patients with atrial fibrillation may be associated with improved cognitive performance and reduced inflammatory markers,” the study authors concluded.
‘Further studies are needed to confirm optimal exposure of three to five cups per day in this older population. Coffee consumption in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation should not be discouraged,” she added.
About one in 50 people in Britain have been diagnosed with AF.
According to the British Heart Foundation, an additional 270,000 people are estimated to have AF, but they remain undiagnosed and unaware of the danger.
AF tends to affect certain groups of people, such as the elderly and those living with long-term (chronic) conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity.
It can be caused by certain situations, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking.
The British Heart Foundation says caffeine is not a cause of AF. However, the effect of caffeine will vary between people with the condition.
Although drinking caffeine has proven health benefits, some people are more sensitive than others and may experience heart palpitations.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) advises that most people can safely consume up to 300mg of caffeine per day – the equivalent of three cups of coffee.
That’s because research has shown that intake of more than 600 mg per day – twice the recommended amount – is linked to insomnia, nervousness, irritability, increased blood pressure and stomach upset.
But if you are pregnant you should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine per day as this could increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight, the NHS warns.