Too much coffee can speed up the cognitive decline that many people experience in old age – while tea may help prevent it, a study suggests.
Researchers examining data from thousands of Britons found those who drank more than three cups of coffee a day were, years later, more likely to have issues with their memory, reasoning and decision-making skills.
Those who either did not drink coffee or drank fewer than three cups daily were found to have a slower cognitive decline.
Some studies have previously suggested that caffeine has a number of health benefits, including reducing the risk of stroke, heart failure, cancers and diabetes.
However, researchers from Murdoch University in Perth claim that their findings now suggest there is such a thing as too much coffee.
Too much coffee can speed up the cognitive decline that many people experience in old age – while tea may help prevent it, a study suggests
Researchers examining data from thousands of Britons found those who drank more than three cups of coffee a day were, years later, more likely to have issues with their memory, reasoning and decision-making skills
Some suggested the effect may be due to a loss of sleep triggered by consuming excessive amount of caffeine.
The study, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, examined adults with healthy mental function older than 60 – logging their tea and coffee consumption and mapping any mental decline in the ten years proceeding.
More than half of respondents said they drank between one and three cups of coffee a day, with a quarter not drinking any and just 18 per cent drinking four or more cups.
As for daily tea consumption, just 15 per cent said they never drink it, 38 per cent had one to three cups and 47 per cent admitted to drinking four or more cups.
While those who drank more than three cups of coffee a day had an increased rate of cognitive decline, this does not mean they developed dementia, but were more likely to struggle to think, learn or remember things.
