This information is particularly crucial for people in their forties and fifties, According to Studies.
Suppose the idea of giving up your morning coffee makes you sick. In that case, there's some good news: According to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, higher coffee consumption is connected to a lower risk of cognitive impairment, which commonly precedes Alzheimer's disease.
Over ten years, researchers studied the coffee consumption habits and cognitive health of 227 cognitively normal older Australian adults. They discovered that drinking more coffee was linked to a slower loss in executive function and attention, as well as a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.
According to the researchers, the process is likely connected to how coffee prevents amyloid buildup. Amyloid plaques are plaque forms that damage neurons in the brain and are associated with Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment. It's also been related to a reduction in the volume of the hippocampus, the memory-forming portion of the brain. According to a recent study, people who drink more coffee have a slower amyloid buildup and better hippocampus volume maintenance.
According to Andrea Dunn, RD, a dietitian in Cleveland Clinic's gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition department, caffeine plays a role in coffee's effect. Still, it's not the only factor to consider. She claims that coffee, in particular, has compounds that can alter the brain's health and provide other benefits.
"Coffee contains about a thousand different botanical compounds, and it's the single best source of antioxidants in the American diet," she says, noting that research has linked the ingredients in coffee to a reduced risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and some types of cancer.
Moderation is essential, just as it is with other foods and beverages. One study that looked at data from over 350,000 people revealed that consuming one to two cups of coffee per day was connected with heart health benefits, but that the benefits faded as the amount of coffee consumed increased. Caffeine intake should be limited to 400 mg per day in all beverages. Coffee has roughly 80 to 100 mg in an 8-ounce cup, so as long as you don't drink more than four cups, you'll be fine.
Dunn points out that this is consistent with other findings, and it's worth noting that these studies assume you're drinking coffee, not a dessert in a cup with sugar, creamer, whipped cream, or flavored syrup.
"Adding sugar to your coffee will counteract the antioxidant benefit," Dunn explains. Use moderate sweeteners instead, and your brain will reward you, especially as you age.