YOUR coffee drinking habit could help ward off dementia, according to a new study – even if you have a common heart problem.
Sipping on up to five brews a day could protect your brain from decline, according to researchers from University Hospital Zürich in Switzerland.
These effects were observed in people with atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition causing an irregular or abnormally fast heart rate that affects 1.5 million Brits.
It’s often assumed that people with heart rhythm issues have to give up caffeine.
But research shows that there’s no need to do so – with Swiss scientists saying the brew may even boost brain health.
Jürg H. Beer, senior author of the study and professor of medicine and hematology at the University of Zürich, said: “Many myths are around, but our study found no reason to discourage or forbid a patient with AF from drinking coffee.
“Instead, say, ‘Enjoy, it may even be good for you!’”
Aside from causing symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and tiredness, AF can make heighten the risk of suffering a stroke due to clots forming in the heart.
The condition – caused by electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat not being sent out properly – has also been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline and developing dementia.
The study authors claimed that regular coffee consumption may help offset theses risks.
Massimo Barbagallo, study author and a resident in the neuro intensive care unit at the University Hospital Zürich, said: “It is known that regular coffee consumption benefits cognitive performance among healthy people.
“The most frequent cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, is known to independently increase the risk of dementia.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Signs of dementia that might be missed” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6361610139112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“Thus, the question is whether coffee might offset the increased risk of cognitive impairment in people with AF.”
The study followed 2,413 people with an average age of 73 with atrial fibrillation who’d been enrolled in Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study between 2014 and 2017.
At enrolment, participants reported how many cups of caffeinated coffee they tended to consumed over the past year – from less than one cup a day to more than five cups a day.
The size of their cup and whether they added creams or sweeteners wasn’t taken into account.
They also underwent various cognitive tests measuring their verbal skills, executive functioning, memory, processing speed, visual-motor coordination and attention.
Researchers then analysed the tests to see whether drinking coffee might stave off the cognitive decline brought on by AF.
Because Alzheimer’s disease and AF are associated with inflammation, researchers also looked for markers of inflammation in participants.
Overall, higher coffee consumption was associated with better scores on cognitive tests.
Scores for processing speed, visuomotor coordination and attention were 11 per cent higher among coffee consumers compared to non-coffee drinkers.
The study team also calculated participants’ cognitive age.
They found that coffee guzzlers’ cognitive age was 6.7 years younger compared to those who drank the least.
Inflammatory markers were also lower in people who drank the most coffee – they were 20 per cent lower in participants drinking five cups daily than in participants drinking less than one cup daily.
Prof Beer said: “There was a very clear and consistent “dose-response” association between drinking more coffee and doing better on several different sophisticated cognitive tests.
“Inflammatory markers decreased with higher coffee consumption, an association that remained after considering variables such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity and a history of stroke.”
But José Joglar, chair of the 2023 joint guideline on the management of atrial fibrillation, noted that the study’s results don’t prove that coffee actually prevents long-term cognitive decline.
“Other studies have shown coffee has cognitive-enhancing functions across the board. This, however, is not specific to the AF population,” he explained.
“We cannot conclude that coffee prevents long-term cognitive decline.
“Coffee does not seem to worsen AFib so there is no need to stop drinking it. However, we cannot say starting to drink coffee would prevent AFib or prevent long-term cognitive decline.”
The study’s major limitation was that it only measured patient’s cognitive ability and coffee consumption at the same point in time.
This means that can’t evaluate differences in cognitive decline with age.
Participants’ coffee drinking habits may also have been different in previous years.
Study authors also noted that participants – who were Swiss – tended to consume espressos, as opposed to cappuccinos and lattes.
Mr Barbagallo said: “To detect a relevant cognitive decline, a follow-up of at least 5-10 years is required.
“However, the nutritive habits including coffee consumption reported by participants reflect exposure over many years and we likely see here the results of this.”