Higher Caffeine Intake Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Dementia

Women who consume higher amounts of caffeine per day are 36% less likely to be diagnosed with cognitive impairment or dementia later in life, according to a new study.

Although nonhuman studies suggest caffeine intake is associated with a protective effect on cognitive function, literature reviews are inconsistent in coming to this conclusion in humans.
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To further investigate this association, the researchers evaluated 6467 women aged 65 years and older who self-reported caffeine intake (including tea, coffee, and cola) in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study.

Participants were grouped based on baseline caffeine intake and received annual assessments for cognitive function.

Within 10 years after baseline, 388 women were diagnosed with probable dementia or other forms of cognitive impairment.

After adjusting for risk factors including hormone therapy, age, body mass index, and others, the researchers found that women consuming median levels of caffeine (about 261 mg/d) were 36% less likely to develop incident dementia or any cognitive impairment compared with those consuming less than median amounts of caffeine (about 64 mg/d).

“Our findings suggest lower odds of probable dementia or cognitive impairment in older women whose caffeine consumption was above median for this group and are consistent with the existing literature showing an inverse association between caffeine intake and age-related cognitive impairment,” the researchers concluded.

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Driscoll I, Shumaker SA, Snively BM, et al. Relationships between caffeine intake and risk for probable dementia or global cognitive impairment: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study [published online September 27, 2016]. J Gereontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. doi:10.1093/gerona/glw078.