Coffee Promotes a Healthy Brain

Do you start your day off with a cup of coffee (or several)? Well, you aren't alone. Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, consumed by more than 3 out of 4 adults in the United States. While most people drink coffee for its stimulating effects, there's new evidence suggesting that it may protect the brain from disease and illness.

According to a new study published by the Gerontological Society of America journal, consuming caffeinated coffee lowers the risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment. 

Of course, this isn't the first time that medical experts have linked the substance to improved brain function. Several similar studies have also found the same results, attesting to the power of coffee. For this particular study, however, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee analyzed data from more than 6,000 women, ages 65 and older, following them for the course of 10 years. Participants drank different amounts of caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea and soda. After one year, researchers analyzed participants' cognitive function while also asking them questions about their caffeine intake. 388 participants developed cognitive decline and/or dementia throughout the study's period.

Here's where things get interesting: researchers found that participants who consumed the most caffeine (roughly 261 mg per day, or three cups of coffee) had the lower risk of developing dementia or impaired cognitive function. These findings indicate that high consumption of caffeine may lower the risk of dementia by as much as 36%. In comparison, participants who consumed the least amount of caffeine had the highest risk of developing dementia.

How exactly does caffeinated beverages like coffee protect against dementia and cognitive decline? This is a question that researchers were reluctant to answer, but the general consensus is that caffeine does in fact protect the brain from disease and illness. Perhaps it's the way in which caffeine affects the brain, or maybe it's caffeine's stimulating properties? The bottom line is that caffeine has been shown to protect against dementia and cognitive decline.

With that said, you should still limit your intake of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for instance, recommends no more than 600 mg of caffeine per day, which is about 2 to 4 cups of coffee.

Do you think caffeinated coffee offers health benefits?