Study links coffee and tea to lower risk of stroke and dementia

Sao Paulo – A study published this week in the scientific journal PLoS Medicine shows that drinking four to six cups of coffee or tea per day is associated with a lower incidence of stroke and dementia in healthy individuals aged 50 to 74.

Scientists at Tianjin Medical University in China analyzed information from 365,600 people registered with the UK Biobank – a British database that contains long-term information about people’s health and lifestyle habits.

During the more than ten years they were followed, 5,079 study participants developed dementia, and 10,053 had at least one stroke.

The article concluded that people who drank two to three cups of coffee or three to five cups of tea per day — or a combination of four to six cups of either — had a lower rate of stroke or dementia.

Among those who reported drinking between two and three cups of coffee or tea per day, there was a 32% lower risk of stroke (stroke) and a 28% lower risk of developing dementia, compared to those who drank none.

Drinking coffee alone or with tea was also associated with a lower risk of post-stroke dementia.

However, the study authors note that the UK Biobank “reflects a relatively healthy sample relative to the general population, which may limit the ability to generalize these associations”.

They stress that “although coffee and tea consumption may protect against stroke, dementia and post-stroke dementia, this causal relationship cannot be inferred from the associations.”

Previous studies have shown that moderate daily consumption of coffee (three to five cups) can lead to cardiovascular benefits. The same is true with tea.

However, caffeine intake should be taken with caution by people with high blood pressure who find it difficult to control their blood pressure, an article from the Harvard School of Public Health recommends.

These drinks are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and substances that help prevent diseases.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends taking no more than 400 mg of caffeine in a 24-hour period. Practically speaking, this represents five cups of brewed coffee or four espressos.

Ideally, there should be a gap of two to two and a half hours between one cup and another. This is the time it takes for the body to get rid of caffeine.

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Each year, about 5 million people lose their lives after a stroke, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 5 million others are disabled.

In Brazil, deaths from stroke totaled 102,800 in 2020, according to data from the Ministry of Health.