Research Finds This Amount Of Coffee Can Adversely Affect Brain Health

MindBodyGreen ^ | 01/06/2025 | Sarah Regan

[SeekAndFind]

For many of us, that morning cup of coffee feels essential to getting the day started. And while some research has shown moderate coffee intake can be beneficial, how much is too much?

That's what researchers from Australia wanted to know, and they published their findings in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.

Studying how high doses of coffee affect the brain

Researchers from the University of South Australia wanted to know how coffee affects the brain (specifically, brain volume, and the risk of dementia and stroke). They studied the effects of coffee on nearly 18,000 people between the ages of 37 and 73, making this the largest study of its kind.

Based on their findings, it seems coffee in excess doesn't reap the same brain benefits as coffee in moderation. Those who drank more than six cups of coffee per day had a 53% increased risk of dementia, as well as smaller brain volume.

As study co-author and Ph.D. candidate Kitty Pham explains in a news release , "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."

As professor and study co-author Elina Hyppönen, Ph.D., MPH, MSc, notes in the release, the exact mechanisms behind why excess coffee consumption can have negative effects aren't fully understood. However, she says, "One simple thing we can do is to keep hydrated and remember to drink a bit of water alongside that cup of coffee."

Don't ditch the coffee just yet

Don't fret, coffee lovers! This research only linked the adverse effects on the brain to excessive coffee intake (over six cups per day). Moderate caffeine intake, on the other hand, has actually been positively associated with brain health.

According to one 2010 study, drinking three to five cups of coffee per day while middle-aged was associated with a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by about 65% later in life.

On top of that, coffee is a good source of antioxidant polyphenols and trigonelline, which support cognitive functioning and may lower the risk of memory loss, nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., previously explained to mbg.

Additional research also suggests coffee has beneficial impacts on brain health , fatty liver, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

The takeaway

"Everything in moderation" is the key takeaway here. You don't have to give up your morning brew, but if you're reaching for your seventh cup of the day, you might want to pump the brakes and find energy elsewhere: Take a cat nap, fit in a quick workout, and consider how you can get better sleep at night and wake up more refreshed.

[SaxxonWoods]

I put in enough coffee grounds for 6 cups and enough water for 6.5. Under the wire, baby!

[dayglored]

> This is a population analysis through a national database. It is not an experiment. Thus, the specific attributes of data variables may NOT be well defined. You could say it is a correlational analysis which does not show cause and effect.

In which case, the title "Research Finds This Amount Of Coffee Can Adversely Affect Brain Health" is pure unadulterated BS clickbait.

[bgill]

My regular mug is about 16 oz. Sounds like I need to double it to cut back.

[Brown Deer]

Moderate caffeine intake, on the other hand, has actually been positively associated with brain health.

According to one 2010 study, drinking three to five cups of coffee per day while middle-aged was associated with a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by about 65% later in life.

On top of that, coffee is a good source of antioxidant polyphenols and trigonelline, which support cognitive functioning and may lower the risk of memory loss, nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo, M.D., previously explained to mbg.

Additional research also suggests coffee has beneficial impacts on brain health , fatty liver, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

I drink two pots per day, but from a small coffee maker, with one scoop of coffee per pot and water to the 5-cup line. Each pot fits into my 24 oz. mug which keeps it hot all day.

[KrisKrinkle]

“...drinking more than six cups of coffee a day may be putting you at risk of brain diseases...”

That explains some of the people I’ve worked with.

[PIF]

Espresso is hi-test and I drank a quart (30 oz) daily for 30 years so a cuppa won’t hurt.

[Rappini]

Raised on coffee since grade school, now a three cupper at 86yo. Laying off the bourbon helped.

[SkyDancer]

Hmmm, well .....

[Flaming Conservative]

If I eat breakfast, I drink less than ½ cup of very strong coffee. Folgers Black Silk is our favorite. It’s a dark roast, but very smooth. I never acquired a taste for coffee, but this stuff is delicious. I don’t have that gene that people who like bitter foods have, but this stuff is so smooth, I enjoy it.

[mbj]

+1 :-)

[tired&retired]

Usually the correct wording is “Research Suggests ....”

[marktwain]

My reading of the research on the benefits of coffee are that it is brewed coffee which is effective, not caffeine or instant coffee.

[mbj]

Confess, Dayglored! You clicked on this article because at the very least, it offers an aspect of entertainment. Clickbait is by definition not even entertaining.

Therefore, even if the study was observational and imprecisely defined, it’s not quite worthless! :-)

[mbj]

+1

Interesting...

[mbj]

:-D

LOL!

[mbj]

:-)

[dayglored]

Fair enough! :-)

[mbj]

+1

[gundog]

[null and void]

Is that a meme about ex-wives or coffee?

No. Widows and coffee...