Yet another large long-term study has just been published showing an association between coffee and a lower risk of dementia.
The researchers followed more than 130,000 people for up to 43 years. Those who drank the most coffee had roughly 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who drank the least. The greatest effect was seen at moderate consumption, around 2 to 3 cups per day.
That is interesting. But the more important question is really: how significant is coffee as a preventive measure compared with other factors?
Coffee is a positive factor, but not the most important one. The largest effects in the research come from:
- physical activity
- blood pressure control
- metabolic health
- social and cognitive stimulation
Coffee belongs rather in the category of "small but positive contributions".
Modern research suggests that 40 to 45% of dementia cases can potentially be prevented or delayed through lifestyle factors. That means brain health is largely built through many small decisions over decades.
