Can coffee slow down ageing?
New research suggests there are benefits to consuming the beverage in moderation.
Morning brew may be best
Many coffee drinkers restrict themselves to a cup or two in the morning and try to limit their intake in the afternoon or evening.
Research suggests that, as we might expect, this is a good strategy to help ensure a refreshing night’s sleep. It may also have other health benefits.
Data from more than 40,000 adults who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018 found that those who drank coffee mainly in the morning had a lower risk of death from any cause, including heart disease, compared to non-coffee drinkers.
You can read more about that here.
For those of us who enjoy a morning brew or two, it’s the question we desperately want answered: is coffee good for us?
Sadly, it seems that every time there’s an item of news in the affirmative, there’s another one debunking it.
So, we’ll continue with the caveat that this article reflects findings from one recent study. It is not health advice.
Research published in BMJ Mental Health has uncovered an intriguing connection between coffee consumption and cellular ageing.
The study suggests that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day is associated with longer telomeres – the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten as we age.
Telomeres play a crucial role in maintaining DNA integrity, and their gradual shortening is linked to ageing and age-related diseases.
People with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, often have shorter telomeres, which may contribute to their reduced life expectancy.
The research examined 436 adults in Norway, including people with schizophrenia and affective disorders, who reported their daily coffee intake.
Blood samples were analysed to measure telomere length, and after adjusting for factors including age, sex, smoking, and medication, the results revealed a striking pattern: those who drank three to four cups of coffee daily had significantly longer telomeres than those who drank none or consumed excessive amounts.
The difference in telomere length was equivalent to about five years of biological ageing.
Interestingly, the relationship was not linear. While moderate coffee intake appeared beneficial, drinking five or more cups a day was linked to shorter telomeres, suggesting that too much coffee may negate the positive effects.
Why might coffee help preserve telomeres? The beverage is rich in antioxidants such as chlorogenic acid and cafestol, which combat oxidative stress and inflammation – two key drivers of telomere shortening.
These compounds may activate protective cellular pathways, slowing down the ageing process at a molecular level. However, excessive consumption could tip the balance, increasing oxidative damage instead of reducing it.
Although these findings are promising, researchers caution that more studies are needed to confirm whether coffee directly influences telomere length and whether the effect applies to the general population.
For now, the evidence adds to a growing body of research suggesting that moderate coffee consumption, up to four cups a day, may offer health benefits beyond mental alertness and enjoyment.
Related reading: Science Daily, BMJ Mental Health
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