Does regular caffeine use reduce the risk of cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disease?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    While some epidemiological studies find a relationship between greater long-term daily caffeine intake (through coffee or tea) and a lower risk of later life cognitive decline or cognitive disorders, others find an inverse relationship and some studies find no relationship at all.[1][2][3][4] A main limitation in such epidemiological studies is that caffeine intake is based on a questionnaire-based retrospective recall of caffeine-containing beverages and foods overall several months or years. Furthermore, the epidemiological data finds no evidence of a dose-response relationship between long-term caffeine intake and cognitive function.[2][3] Consequently, an overall conclusion cannot be made from the epidemiological data; well-designed randomized controlled trials or cohort studies are needed to make firm conclusions about the effects of long-term caffeine intake and the risk of cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

    References

    1. ^J Q Alida Chen, Philip Scheltens, Colin Groot, Rik OssenkoppeleAssociations Between Caffeine Consumption, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia: A Systematic ReviewJ Alzheimers Dis.(2020)
    2. ^Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Barulli MR, Bonfiglio C, Guerra V, Osella A, Seripa D, Sabbà C, Pilotto A, Logroscino GCoffee, tea, and caffeine consumption and prevention of late-life cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review.J Nutr Health Aging.(2015-Mar)
    3. ^Qing-Ping Liu, Yan-Feng Wu, Hong-Yu Cheng, Tao Xia, Hong Ding, Hui Wang, Ze-Mu Wang, Yun XuHabitual coffee consumption and risk of cognitive decline/dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studiesNutrition.(2016 Jun)
    4. ^Kim YS, Kwak SM, Myung SKCaffeine intake from coffee or tea and cognitive disorders: a meta-analysis of observational studies.Neuroepidemiology.(2015)