A recent study has shown that drinking more than three cups of coffee a day may decrease the rate of cognitive decline associated with age. Coffee keeps you smarter and sharper for longer.
This study was published in the the journal Neurology. Utilizing over 4000 women and nearly 3000 men in France, the researchers found that women who drank at least three cups a day had a 33% lower decline in verbal retrieval and an 18% lower decline in memory, compared to those who drank one cup or less.
Unfortunately for the guys, this beneficial effect was only apparent in women, not men!
The researchers recruited the participants aged 65 years or over from three French cities. Measurement of cognitive performance was completed using a battery of standard assessments. The participants were assessed at the start of the study and then again two and four years later.
The scientists don’t know why this benefit of coffee was apparent in women and not men. However, don’t stress guys, this was only a cross-sectional study, albeit a rather extensive one. Cross-sectional studies only identify possibilities. More direct research is needed to determine whether there is a cause and effect relationship. Other studies have reported health benefits from coffee consumption in both men and women.
