People who drink coffee daily may live up to five years longer than those who avoid it, a new study has revealed.
Consuming up to four cups per day appears to slow biological aging by lengthening telomeres, the structures that protect the ends of chromosomes. Shorter telomere length is associated with a higher risk of developing certain age-related diseases and is considered a marker of cellular aging.
However, beyond this amount of four cups a day – equivalent to 400 mg of caffeine, the maximum recommended intake – not only was no benefit found, but there is a risk of cellular damage, according to the Independent.
“Consumed in moderation, coffee can have a positive effect, but in large doses it has the opposite result. Coffee consumption up to the recommended daily limit was associated with a biological age up to five years younger compared with non-coffee drinkers,” the study’s authors said.
The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, specifically examined the effects of coffee on the aging process of individuals with severe mental illnesses by analyzing their telomere length.
What are telomeres
Telomeres are located at the ends of chromosomes to prevent them from fraying or tangling—similar to the plastic tips on shoelaces.
As we age, telomeres become shorter—but this process is accelerated in people with severe psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the researchers note.
Coffee and mental illness
The study involved 436 adults from Norway’s TOP (Thematically Organised Psychosis) program for psychosis. Of these, 259 had schizophrenia, while the remaining 177 had bipolar disorder or major depression with psychosis. Participants were divided into four groups based on their daily coffee intake: none, one to two cups, three to four cups and five or more.
Using blood samples, the researchers measured telomere length in white blood cells and found that those who drank four cups a day had significantly longer telomeres—corresponding to a biological age five years younger than non-drinkers—even after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, type of mental disorder and medication. In contrast, overconsumption—more than five cups a day—was linked to cellular damage.
Where the benefits come from
Researchers attribute the potential anti-aging benefits of coffee to its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.
“Telomeres are particularly sensitive to both oxidative stress and inflammation, which supports the hypothesis that coffee consumption may protect against cellular aging,” they note.
However, Dr. Elizabeth points out that the researchers should have examined the individual coffee compounds in the blood separately, as “coffee is not a single ingredient but a mixture of many compounds that may interact with each other in different ways.”kam, a bioscientist from Loughborough University who was not involved in the study,