Finally Some Good News: Coffee and Tea May Reduce Your Dementia Risk

Sometimes it feels like everything I enjoy is deemed "bad for you". But finally, a piece of news I can get behind: That "I probably should stop but I really could use a buzz" second (or third or fourth) coffee of the day may actually offer some protective benefits.

A new study published in JAMA details observation of 131821 people from two cohorts. The data was collected between 1980 and 2023, and in those years, 11,033 dementia cases were observed. 

According to the findings, coffee drinkers in middle age had an 18 percent lower likelihood of developing dementia later in life, while tea drinkers reduced their risk by 14 percent. The key here is the caffeine: The effect didn't hold up among people who drink decaffeinated teas and coffee.

As always, moderation is necessary. The study calls out two to three cups of coffee a day or one to two cups of tea a day as the protective sweet spot. For me at least, that second or third cup is where I find myself asking if it’s going to be too much caffeine in one day even if I really feel like I could use a bit more energy. This study might make me rethink that…

It’s important to remember that one study doesn’t give us absolute truths. While this data gives us a reason to believe caffeine may have cognitive health benefits — and this isn’t the first time we’ve found a reason to believe coffee can bring benefits to the table — it doesn’t necessarily tell us that a few cups of coffee a day will prevent dementia.

But I could really use some good news right now, and I’m going to take this as a sign that I should pour myself another cup. Join me?