Additional Coverage:
- Daily coffee drinking linked to major health benefit in women as they age, study finds (foxnews.com)
A new Harvard study suggests that a daily cup of joe could be more than just a morning pick-me-up for women—it may also contribute to healthier aging. Researchers followed nearly 50,000 women for 30 years as part of the Nurses’ Health Study and discovered a link between caffeinated coffee consumption and better physical and cognitive function later in life.
The study, presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting, found that middle-aged women who drank caffeinated coffee were more likely to age healthily, meaning they lived longer without major chronic diseases and maintained good physical, mental, and cognitive function. Interestingly, decaf coffee and tea did not show the same benefits, nor did caffeinated sodas. In fact, daily soda drinkers were found to have a lower chance of healthy aging.
Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard, explained that the benefits were observed even after accounting for lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and smoking.
Women who were considered “healthy agers” consumed an average of 315mg of caffeine daily, mainly from coffee. Each additional cup was associated with a 2% to 5% increased chance of healthier aging.
Dr. Mahdavi believes this points to coffee’s unique blend of bioactive compounds, rather than caffeine alone, as the key factor.
While this research is promising, it’s important to note some limitations. The study is observational, so it can’t definitively prove cause and effect. Also, the participants were primarily white, educated female health professionals, so further research is needed to determine if these findings apply to a wider population.
Dr. Mahdavi stressed that while coffee might play a role, a healthy lifestyle—including good nutrition, regular exercise, and not smoking—remains the most important factor in healthy aging.
She cautions against starting a coffee habit solely based on these findings, especially if you are caffeine-sensitive. For those who already enjoy a moderate amount (two to four cups a day), this study provides further reassurance that coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
The research team is now investigating how coffee’s bioactive compounds may influence aging at the molecular level.