The Secret to Preserving Memory: Coffee and Tea Said to Reduce Dementia Risk

Good news for coffee and tea enthusiasts. A long-term study spanning 43 years involving approximately 130,000 respondents has provided strong evidence that the habit of regularly drinking coffee and tea can be one of the keys to maintaining cognitive function and reducing the risk of dementia.

The research conducted by a team from Mass General Brigham and Harvard University concludes that moderate consumption of coffee and tea correlates with a reduction in the risk of the disease that attacks memory. Among the total participants observed, approximately 11,000 individuals developed dementia, but those who regularly consumed caffeine showed better brain resilience.

In a report published by the American Medical Association, researchers emphasised that early prevention is crucial. This is because once symptoms of dementia appear, current treatments provide only limited benefits.

Coffee and tea contain polyphenolic compounds and caffeine that serve as neuroprotective factors. These compounds work by reducing inflammation and cellular damage whilst protecting the brain from atrophy.

“Our results are very encouraging, but it is important to remember that coffee consumption is only one piece of the larger puzzle in protecting cognitive function as we age,” said Daniel Wang from Mass General Brigham and Harvard, as reported by The Star on Thursday (26 February).

Although some studies provide slightly different figures, there is generally a consensus regarding the moderate doses that are beneficial:

Harvard Study: Recommends 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee or 1 to 2 cups of tea per day.

University of Utah Study: States that up to 4 cups of coffee per day is the optimal dosage.

American Chemical Society Study (2023): Highlights compounds in espresso that can inhibit the accumulation of tau protein—the cause of cognitive damage in old age.

Another interesting finding is that these benefits remain evident even in people who have a predisposition or genetic inheritance of dementia. This means that caffeine likely provides equivalent protection for those with both high and low genetic risk.

Although coffee has anti-ageing benefits for human cells, experts nevertheless remind us that a healthy lifestyle overall remains the primary determining factor in protecting brain health in the future.