Drinking Caffeinated Coffee or Tea May Lower Risk of Cognitive Decline

marthastewart.com · Feb 16, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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These daily caffeinated drinks could help lower the risk of dementia. By Michele Laufik Michele Laufik is a freelance lifestyle writer and editor covering beauty & fashion, health & fitness, food, travel, and sex & relationships. Published on February 16, 2026 Credit: paula sierra / Getty Images Good news for daily coffee or tea drinkers. A new study found that people who drink caffeinated beverages may have a lower risk of developing dementia. The study, which was published in the medical journal JAMA, analyzed the data of 131,821 people who had participated in two studies that ran for up to 43 years. Of the group, 11,033 developed dementia. The researchers, who were from Mass General Brigham, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, excluded people with major chronic diseases such as cancer, Parkinson's disease, or dementia at the outset of the study. The researchers compared each participant's self-reported intake of coffee, caffeinated tea, and decaffeinated coffee to their cognitive health over time. They found that the men and women who drank the most caffeinated coffee had an 18 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who reported little or no caffeinated coffee consumption. Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed a lower prevalence of overall cognitive decline, and caffeinated coffee and tea were also found to modestly improve cognitive function. The benefits appeared to be most pronounced in people who drank 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day or 1 to 2 cups of caffeinated tea. “While our results are encouraging, it’s important to remember that the effect size is small and there are lots of important ways to protect cognitive function as we age. Our study suggests that caffeinated coffee or tea consumption can be one piece of that puzzle," senior author Daniel Wang, associate scientist with the Channing Division of Network Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, told The Harvard Gazette. Details regarding the specific type of tea consumed (e.g., green versus black tea) or specific coffee preparation methods (e.g., bean origin, roast level, or brewing technique) were not collected. Note The study found a small reduction in risk of dementia, with the data showing an association, not proof of causation, meaning that the caffeinated beverages might not be the only factor impacting cognitive health. The authors noted that more research was necessary to validate the results. Was this page helpful? Tell us why!