Good news for those who enjoy a cup of joe in the morning: drinking coffee when you are middle-aged could help ward off signs of dementia later on.
A Swedish/Finnish study found that people who drank a moderate amount of coffee defined as between 3 and 5 cups per day when they were in their 50s were 65 percent less likely to develop dementia or Alzheimers disease.
The findings, published in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease, do not attempt to explain the connection between coffee drinking and having fewer memory problems.
However, researcher Miia Kivipelto told AFP the answer may involve the high level of antioxidants found in coffee.
She also pointed out that some studies have found coffee can be beneficial to the nervous system, while others show protective effects against diabetes. Both of these conditions have been linked to Alzheimers.
“Given the large amount of coffee consumption globally, the results might have important implications for the prevention of or delaying the onset of dementia,” the study authors wrote.