Savoring a cup of coffee or tea daily might provide better cognitive functioning on a long-term basis. A new study found that drinking moderate amounts of caffeinated coffee or tea (two to three cups of coffee or one to two cups of tea daily) may help to prevent cognitive decline.

More than 130,000 participants were tracked over a period of 43 years, says a study published recently in JAMA and Science Daily. Those who drank moderate amounts of tea or coffee daily had reduced risk of dementia, slower cognitive decline, and a lesser risk of cognitive decline.

Within the participants, 11,033 developed dementia over the course of the study. Individuals who regularly consumed higher amount of caffeinated coffee averaged an 18 percent lower risk of developing dementia, compared with those participants who rarely or never drank it. In addition, these participants reported lower rates of cognitive decline and did better in certain cognitive testing.

Previous studies on caffeine and dementia have had mixed results. This, the article stated, was due to shorter study periods or limited data on long-term consumption patterns. Both coffee and tea contain compounds like polyphenols and caffeine, which may help support better brain health.

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