Longevity & AgingTwo to Three Cups of Coffee Daily Linked to 35% Lower Dementia Risk in Major Study
A large long-term study following over 131,000 healthcare professionals for up to 43 years found that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or tea daily was linked to a 35% lower risk of developing dementia, particularly in adults under 75. The optimal caffeine dose appears to be around 250–300mg per day. Beyond that threshold, no additional brain protection was observed. Researchers identified several biological mechanisms: caffeine blocks adenosine, which helps maintain dopamine and acetylcholine activity that naturally declines with age. It may also reduce neuroinflammation and amyloid plaque buildup associated with Alzheimer's disease. Notably, people who drank more decaf showed faster memory decline, likely because switching to decaf often signals underlying health issues already linked to cognitive decline.
