Does Coffee Lower the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Does coffee lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The research on coffee consumption and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease presents mixed results. While some studies indicate no significant association, others suggest that moderate coffee consumption may reduce the risk of AD and slow cognitive decline. The potential protective effects of coffee might be linked to its impact on cerebral amyloid accumulation. However, further research is needed to establish definitive conclusions and understand the underlying mechanisms.

The potential impact of coffee consumption on the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has been a subject of considerable research interest. Various studies have explored whether habitual coffee intake can reduce the risk of developing AD or slow cognitive decline associated with the disease.

Key Insights

• No Significant Association in Some Studies:
  • Several meta-analyses and systematic reviews found no statistically significant association between coffee consumption and the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. These studies concluded that coffee consumption neither increased nor decreased the risk of AD1 2 3.
• Potential Protective Effect:
  • Some studies suggest that higher coffee consumption may be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. For instance, one meta-analysis found that individuals who consumed 1-2 cups and 2-4 cups of coffee per day had a significantly lower risk of developing AD, while those who consumed more than 4 cups per day had an increased risk4. Another study indicated that moderate coffee consumption (3-5 cups per day) was associated with a reduced risk of AD6.
• Cognitive Decline and Amyloid Accumulation:
  • Higher coffee consumption has been linked to slower cognitive decline and less cerebral Aβ-amyloid accumulation, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s Disease. This suggests that coffee may have a protective effect against the cognitive decline associated with AD7 9 10.
• Gender Differences and Inconclusive Results:
  • Some studies noted that the protective effects of coffee might be more pronounced in women than in men, although the evidence is not consistent across all cognitive domains3. Additionally, the association between coffee consumption and the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia remains inconclusive3.

Does coffee lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Ronald Postuma has answered Unlikely

An expert from McGill University in Epidemiology, Neurology

There is no clear evidence of this. There are some suggestions that coffee drinkers have lower rates of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. However, the key question is why. Correlation does not equal causation. For example, it is likely that the sort of actively engaged person who drinks coffee (e.g. somebody who is actively working and uses caffeine to keep themselves sharp) is, by definition, the sort of person who is unlikely to have Alzheimer’s disease, or its early stages.”

Does coffee lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alberto Ascherio has answered Unlikely

An expert from Harvard University in 

Overall, I believe data are insufficient to support a preventive effect of coffee, but I have not had time to run a systematic review to provide a more convincing answer.