Two cups of coffee a day
Recent studies have shown that as coffee and tea consumption has increased in recent years, the incidence of dementia has decreased. According to data released by the UK Biobank in November 2021, people who drank two to three cups of coffee and tea per day had a 28% lower risk of developing dementia among 365,682 participants.
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, researchers found that coffee, but not tea, had a positive effect on cognitive decline in participants following the Australian Dietary Guidelines. After two years and 22 months, participants who drank two to three cups of coffee per day showed a slower rate of cognitive decline and reduced accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain. Amyloid beta plaques are harmful waste products that can build up in the brain and lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
The Benefits of Quit from Alcohol
The scientific consensus on the health effects of alcohol consumption is constantly evolving. In 2018, a study published in the British Medical Journal by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research found that people who abstained from alcohol were at an increased risk of developing dementia compared to people who drank moderately. This finding was surprising to many, as it seemed to contradict the previous consensus that moderate drinking was beneficial for health.
In his book Memory Enhancement: How to Use Your Brain to Stay Sharp and Avoid Alzheimer’s, Dr. Richard Restak, a neurologist and author, argues that the 2018 study was flawed. He points out that the study’s definition of “abstinence” was too broad, and that many of the people who were classified as abstainers had actually been heavy drinkers in the past.
Dr. Restak also cites research by Canadian cardiologist Christopher Labos, who found that many studies that have found a benefit to moderate drinking have been flawed in similar ways. Labos argues that the only way to accurately assess the health effects of alcohol is to study people who have never drunk alcohol.
Dr. Restak concludes that the best way to protect your health is to abstain from alcohol altogether. He notes that alcohol is a neurotoxin that can damage brain cells. He also cites research that has found that alcohol increases the risk of dementia, even in people who drink moderately.
In addition to the risk of dementia, alcohol can also damage the liver, heart, and other organs. It can also lead to addiction, violence, and other social problems.
For older adults, the risks of alcohol consumption are even greater. As people age, their brains become more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol. Dr. Restak recommends that all adults over the age of 70 abstain from alcohol.
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