Story by: Joe Hall on July 28, 2021
Coffee is part of many people’s morning routines, but researchers say consuming too much Joe could put your brain at risk.
A study out of Australia showed consuming more than six cups of coffee daily led to a 53% increased risk of developing dementia later in life. While the researchers are not sure exactly how too much coffee links with brain health issues, they noted that finding the right balance of consumption may help protect against future brain difficulties.
“Accounting for all possible permutations, we consistently found that higher coffee consumption was significantly associated with reduced brain volume — essentially, drinking more than six cups of coffee a day may be putting you at risk of brain diseases such as dementia and stroke,” said Kitty Pham, the lead researcher of the study.
Dementia is a degenerative brain condition. Over time, the condition affects memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday tasks. In Kentucky, more than 75,000 people 65 and older are living with the disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the state.
Join specialists from Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center on Tuesday, May 2, to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and celebrate progress in treating it. During this lunch program, attendees will learn about the memory center, our approach to patient care and available multidisciplinary support services.
According to Gregory Cooper, M.D., Ph.D., chief of adult neurology and director of the Norton Neuroscience Institute Memory Center, while the findings are interesting, more research is needed to draw a conclusion.
“It looks like a solid study, but it would be hard to reach a strong conclusion yet,” Dr. Cooper said. “In fact, there is data suggesting that caffeine generally, and coffee more specifically, might even be protective to the brain. The difference is the quantity. Some small amount is good, and too much becomes bad.”
In fact, Dr. Cooper, who has worked with dementia patients for more than 25 years, said up to 40% of dementia cases are preventable. Recommendations to lower dementia risk include prevention against:
“If you address any of these issues, your chances for developing dementia are much lower,” Dr. Cooper said. “And as for the coffee, a cup or two isn’t likely to hurt, and could even be helpful, but don’t go too crazy on the caffeine.”
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