Scientists have been studying the relationship of coffee with various pathologies of the nervous system for a long time. But the new study is the largest of its kind. Its authors compared the amount of coffee drunk daily with the likelihood of a decrease in brain volume, the risk of stroke and dementia.
Scientists from the University of South Australia have found new arguments against drinking too much coffee. Their study is published in Nutritional Neuroscience. The study sample included more than 17,700 people aged 37-73 years.
“We took into account various factors and found that drinking large amounts of coffee is associated with a decrease in brain volume. Six cups a day or more can increase your risk of stroke and dementia,” said Kitty Pham, co-author of the study.
The study showed that the risk of dementia is 53% higher in people who drink at least 6 cups of coffee a day. The risk of stroke at this level of coffee consumption increased by 17%.
The lead author of the study, Professor Elina Hyppönen, said that this news may upset many fans of this drink. However, she believes that people need to be aware of the balance between the amount of coffee they drink and its possible effects on health. Moderation, as in many other cases, is the key to health.
“Like genetic data and randomized trials, our work suggests that coffee can be bad for the brain. The exact mechanisms of this effect are not known. It's a simple thing we can do to protect ourselves – prevent dehydration, drink some water with your coffee,” Hippönen said.
Coffee can dehydrate the body due to its diuretic effect.
Scientists have emphasized that two cups of coffee — this is the average level of coffee consumption by a person during the day — cannot be called a dangerous dose.