Coffee slows down loss of brain cells

Elderly women who have several cups of coffee or tea per day seem to have a slower loss of brain cells than women who do not. French researchers followed 2,820 men and 4,197 women from three French cities, aged 65 years or older, and free of dementia. The team assessed their caffeine consumption in terms of 100-milligram units; one cup of coffee was considered to contain 100 mg of caffeine and tea, 50 mg. Caffeine consumption was relatively stable over time. At the start of the study, 16 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men drank more than three units per day. After four years, women with high rates of caffeine consumption showed slower decline in verbal retrieval, and to a lesser extent in memory, than women who drank less tea or coffee. The decline slowed down by 9 per cent for one or two caffeine units per day, and by 34 per cent with consumption at least three units per day. However, there appeared to be no effect of caffeine consumption on cognitive function among men. Caffeine consumption also did not reduce dementia risk over 4 years. Thus, caffeine appears to reduce cognitive decline in elderly women without dementia. Although no impact was observed on dementia incidence, further studies are required to confirm whether tea or coffee may be useful in prolonging the period of mild cognitive impairment in elderly women prior to a diagnosis of dementia.