Coffee is among the most popular drinks in the world. However, with global consumption of over nine billion kilograms per year, understanding the potential health implications is critical. For example, this very famous drink that we consume by the liter represents a big problem for osteoporosis, as seen in a previous article.
In the face of the numerous recipes and versions concerning coffee, scientific studies follow one another which underline its danger with high consumption. In fact, coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant of the central nervous system. Be careful because drinking this very common drink can lead to dementia and stroke according to science.
Dementia and stroke
Dementia is a degenerative condition of the brain that affects memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to carry out daily activities. It is diagnosed in approximately 50 million people around the world.
Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to the brain is cut off, resulting in a lack of oxygen, brain damage and loss of function. Globally, one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. The data suggests that 13.7 million people will have a stroke this year with 5.5 million deaths as a result.
In a 2010 paper (Esckelinen MH and Kivipelto M), researchers hypothesized a protective role of coffee from dementia and Alzheimer’s. In particular, the protective effect occurred with a quantity of coffee between 3 and 5 cups a day. These data contrast decisively with respect to the results obtained in the very recent study which we will discuss in the next paragraph.
Be careful because drinking this very common drink can lead to dementia and stroke according to science
In a study published in June 2021 (Pham K et al, 2021), high coffee consumption was found to be associated with smaller brain volume. This means that people who drink 6 or more cups of coffee a day have a 53% increased risk of developing dementia and a higher risk of stroke.
This is not the place to discuss which of the two studies is more reliable. In this case, however, we underline that the two opposing effects would seem associated with different amounts of caffeine and that therefore the two studies would seem to complete.
What we can suggest, as usual, is moderation. Although the exact mechanisms are not known, one simple thing we can do is stay hydrated and remember to drink some water along with that cup of coffee.
(We remind you to carefully read the warnings regarding this article, which can be consulted who”)