Drinking too much coffee increases the risk of dementia

Coffee can be the perfect brew to start the day or mid-afternoon, but a recent new study has suggested that consuming too much can compromise our brain health over time.

The research was conducted by experts from the University of South Australia (UniSA), who found that high coffee consumption is associated with smaller total brain volumes and a 53 percent increased risk of dementia.

Experts offer no explanation for the surprising link, which follows several previous studies that found that drinking coffee in moderation can actually prevent dementia.

The new study also follows a large body of previous evidence that drinking coffee has other health benefits over time, as long as it is not consumed in excess.

Experts have evaluated the effects of coffee on the brain between 17,702 UK Biobank participants, aged 37 to 73.

Those who drank more than six cups of coffee per day had a 53% increased risk of dementia compared to those who drank one or two cups a day.

Although excessive coffee consumption has not been specifically identified as a cause of dementia, the authors of this new study warn against high consumption of the substantia nigra, which they define as more than six cups a day.

Posted in Nutritional neuroscience of the academic journal Taylor & Francois, the study was led by researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA), as well as academics from other institutions such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Exeter.

“Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. However, with global consumption exceeding 9 billion kilograms per year, it is essential that we understand the potential health implications.Explained lead author of the study, Kitty Pham of UniSA.

“This is the most in-depth research on the links between coffee, brain volume measurements, dementia risk and stroke risk. It is also the largest study that considers volumetric brain imaging data and a wide range of confounding factors, ”he added.

Taking into account all the possible permutations, Scientists have consistently found that increased coffee consumption was significantly associated with reduced brain volume. “Essentially, drinking more than six cups of coffee a day can put you at risk for brain diseases like dementia and stroke,” they noted in the paper.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, we should drink 400 mg of coffee per day, between four and five cups, maximum, although they note that the daily maximum is only 200 mg for pregnant women.

“Typical daily coffee consumption is between one and two standard cups of coffee,” said another study author, Professor Elina Hyppönen.

Of course, while unit measurements may vary, one or two cups of coffee per day is usually sufficient. “However, If you find that your coffee intake is approaching more than six cups a day, it’s time to reconsider your next drink.“They warned.

Professor David Llewellyn of the University of Exeter, a member of the research team, added: “Heavy coffee drinkers can reduce their risk of dementia by moderating the amount they drink, for example by drinking tea, which in our study was not linked to the risk of dementia”.

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