Two to three cups of coffee or two cups of tea daily can lower the risk of dementia and preserve cognitive function during ageing, medical researchers reported on Monday, corroborating a protective effect first recognised 24 years ago. The researchers in the US who analysed data from a large study underway for over four decades have found that both men and women with the highest daily caffeine consumption had an average 18 per cent lower risk of dementia. Some studies suggested increased risk at higher intake while other studies hinted at protective effects. The cognitive benefits were most pronounced at “moderate intake levels” — in the participants who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one or two cups of tea daily, the researchers said. Caffeine may help protect the brain by reducing the buildup of harmful proteins and lowering inflammation, both of which can slow cognitive decline.

Source: The Telegraph February 10, 2026 02:24 UTC