COFFEE IS BASICALLY A WONDER DRUG: Caffeine consumption in older women seems to reduce risk of dementia.

The findings come from participants in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study, which was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Driscoll and her research colleagues used data from 6,467 post-menopausal women who reported some level of caffeine consumption. Intake was estimated from questions about intake of coffee, tea and cola, including frequency and serving size.

In 10 years or less of follow-up with annual assessments of cognitive function, 388 of these women received a diagnosis of probable dementia or some form of global cognitive impairment.

Those who consumed more than the median amount of caffeine for this group were diagnosed at a lower rate than those who fell below the median. The researchers adjusted for risk factors such as hormone therapy, age, race, education, body mass index, sleep quality, depression, hypertension, prior cardiovascular disease, diabetes, smoking and alcohol use.

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