The results showed that the risk of dementia was 18 percent lower in the group drinking the most caffeinated coffee.
What you should know
A study has shown that people who drink caffeinated coffee and tea may have a lower risk of dementia.
According to a study recently published in the medical journal JAMA, data from 131,821 people who participated in two studies conducted from 1986 to 2023 were analyzed. 11,033 of them developed memory impairment during the study period.
Researchers compared participants' coffee, caffeinated tea, and decaf coffee consumption and their cognitive health records over time. The results showed that the risk of dementia was 18 percent lower in the group drinking the most caffeinated coffee.
According to the researchers, drinking 2-3 cups of caffeinated coffee or 1-2 cups of caffeinated tea a day was more beneficial. But there was no significant association between decaf coffee and dementia risk.
Dr. Celine Gounder, a medical expert at CBS News and health editor at Health News, said the results should be taken with great caution. She said the study showed only a small reduction in risk and that the data only showed an association, so it's not fair to conclude that coffee prevents dementia.
Gounder said that factors other than coffee consumption could also affect the risk of memory loss. For example, people with high blood pressure may want to avoid caffeinated beverages for health reasons, while high blood pressure itself is a risk factor for memory loss.
More than 7 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of memory loss, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Gounder said that based on the study, people should avoid making major changes to their diet and should reduce their risk of memory loss by getting regular exercise, a balanced diet, weight control and hearing screenings.
