Daily Coffee or Tea Linked to Lower Dementia Risk, Study Finds
Consuming a few cups of coffee or tea each day may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia and slower cognitive decline, according to a large novel study published on February 9, 2026. The research, involving data from over 130,000 individuals, suggests that moderate consumption of these beverages could offer a small layer of protection for brain health as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Researchers analyzed data collected over several decades from healthcare professionals in the United States. The findings indicate that individuals who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily, or one to two cups of tea, experienced fewer cases of dementia and demonstrated better performance on cognitive tests compared to those who rarely or never consumed these drinks. This research adds to a growing body of evidence exploring the potential cognitive benefits of caffeine and other compounds found in coffee and tea.
The study, conducted by teams from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, included data from two large cohorts: the Nurses’ Health Study (launched in 1976) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (since 1986). Participants periodically completed questionnaires about their dietary habits, including coffee and tea consumption, and underwent assessments for cognitive impairment.
Over a follow-up period of up to 43 years, researchers identified 11,033 cases of new dementia. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, they found a significant association between higher caffeinated coffee intake and a lower risk of dementia – 141 cases per 100,000 person-years compared to 330 cases per 100,000 person-years in the lowest consumption group. The hazard ratio was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76 to 0.89). Higher caffeinated coffee intake was likewise linked to a lower prevalence of subjective cognitive decline (7.8% versus 9.5%; prevalence ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.78 to 0.93]).
In the Nurses’ Health Study group, higher caffeinated coffee intake was also associated with better objective cognitive performance. These findings, published in JAMA, suggest a potential benefit of moderate caffeine consumption for cognitive health.
According to Kanker-Actueel.nl, the study included 86,606 female participants in the Nurses Health study and 45,215 male participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The findings could have implications for public health recommendations regarding dietary habits and cognitive health.
While the study does not suggest coffee and tea are a “wonder drug,” the results indicate that moderate consumption may provide an additional protective effect for the brain. Medisquare.be reports that the incidence of dementia was significantly lower among those who consumed the most coffee compared to those who consumed little to none.
