Can Coffee and Tea Prevent Dementia?

Many people consume caffeinated coffee and tea for their short-term cognitive effects, such as increased focus and alertness. But some observational studies suggest a possible long-term benefit: a lower risk of dementia (see Figure 1).

To investigate further, researchers examined longitudinal data from two cohorts of 130,000 health professionals who completed dietary intake assessments every 2 to 4 years. For each beverage (caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea), participants were divided into groups based on levels of intake. Average follow-up was ~40 years, and 11,000 participants were diagnosed with dementia.