The same cup of coffee that jolts you awake on a sleepy morning may also protect your brain from potentially fatal diseases like Alzheimer’s — but only if you drink it the right way.
A recent study found that drinking unsweetened, caffeinated coffee is associated with a lower risk of developing or dying from Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and Parkinson’s disease.
For the study, which was published in a scientific journal of the American Society for Nutrition, researchers looked at medical and dietary records of more than 204,000 people in the United Kingdom who were tracked for a median of nine years.
Those who drank coffee in any amount were 34% to 37% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder of the nervous system. They also were 47% less likely to die from such a neurodegenerative disease.
The statistical significance of these beneficial effects was highest in people who consumed the most coffee, at least three cups per day.
Drinking the following types of coffee was not associated with the same effects:
- Sugar-sweetened
- Artificially sweetened
- Decaffeinated
The benefits of unsweetened, caffeinated appear to be tied to properties in caffeine that may protect the brain from dementia. The researchers also speculated that sweetening coffee might interfere with these beneficial effects.
“The addition of sugar or artificial sweeteners to coffee may have harmful effects and should be approached cautiously. Instead, the recommendation leans toward the consumption of unsweetened and caffeinated coffee.”
The researchers also caution that more study is necessary before they can conclude that drinking coffee has a direct, cause-and-effect relationship with dementia risk. However, previous studies have found links between coffee consumption and a slower progression of dementia.
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