Regular Tea or Coffee Intake Linked to Lower Dementia Risk, Study Suggests

People who drink a couple of teas or coffees a day may face a lower risk of dementia, according to a large US study. Researchers analysed health data from more than 130,000 people followed for up to 43 years and found that those who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily had a 15–20% lower risk of dementia than non-drinkers. The study, published in Journal of the American Medical Association, also found slightly better cognitive performance among caffeinated coffee drinkers compared with those who chose decaf. Lead author Yu Zhang of Harvard University said the findings could not prove cause and effect, but were consistent with biological theories linking caffeine and polyphenols to reduced inflammation, better vascular health, and improved metabolism. Experts cautioned that caffeine can have mixed effects and should not be seen as a cure-all, stressing that exercise, diet, sleep, and blood pressure control remain key to protecting brain health.