JAMA February 11 Coffee and Tea Intake, Dementia Risk, and Cognitive Function.

This extensive longitudinal study tracked over 130,000 individuals for more than four decades to determine how beverage choices influence brain health as we age. Researchers discovered that people who regularly consumed caffeinated coffee and tea faced a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia compared to those who did not. Interestingly, these cognitive benefits were not observed with decaffeinated coffee, suggesting that caffeine plays a vital role in maintaining mental sharpness and slowing perceived decline. The data indicates a nonlinear dose-response relationship, where moderate daily consumption—roughly two to three cups of coffee or one to two cups of tea—offered the most substantial protection for long-term cognitive resilience.