This world’s most popular beverage not only energizes us but also helps us stay young for as long as possible. Additionally, coffee has a healing effect on individuals with mental health issues. However, experts from the World Health Organization recommend limiting consumption to no more than four cups a day.
These conclusions come from a new study conducted by researchers at King’s College London. According to the scientists, regular coffee consumption can reduce biological age by approximately five years.
The team reports that coffee may slow the shortening of telomeres, which is linked not only to slowing down the aging process but also to positive effects on patients with mental health challenges.
“The study showed that consuming up to four cups of a day is associated with longer telomeres, particularly in individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,” stated graduate student Vid Mlakhar, a co-author of the study.
How did the scientists find this out?
One of the most reliable markers of biological aging is the length of telomeres. These protective “caps” at the ends of chromosomes prevent DNA from sticking together and breaking down.
Like all our DNA, telomeres become damaged with age. The shorter the telomeres, the older the person. Unfortunately, unlike most other parts of our genome, they cannot self-repair, as reported by IFLScience.
Telomere length is largely inherited and is influenced by a variety of factors, including sex, race, and ethnicity. The condition of telomeres is also affected by mental health. “Recent studies have shown that telomeres in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are shorter than those of their healthy peers,” noted Monika Aas, the senior author of the study.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the relationship between and telomere length in individuals with schizophrenia or affective disorders,” the researchers emphasized in their report.
The team involved 436 adults diagnosed with the aforementioned mental health issues. The scientists measured the participants’ telomere lengths and compared the results with their daily coffee intake.
So, does coffee really slow aging?
Ultimately, the researchers found a correlation between coffee consumption and cellular aging, as measured by telomere length, particularly in patients with mental disorders.
This conclusion holds true even when accounting for age, sex, ethnicity, medication use, tobacco consumption, and more. The scientists concluded: “Our new study suggests that coffee consumption may slow biological aging. The expert-recommended limit of four cups a day is associated with longer telomeres.” However, increasing daily caffeine intake did not yield statistically significant effects.
The team hypothesized that telomere length increased due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of caffeine. However, this remains a hypothesis that the researchers need to confirm in future studies.
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