Dementia is a progressive, degenerative condition affecting memory, thinking, and daily functioning, and it is not an inevitable consequence of aging. More than 55 million people worldwide currently live with dementia. The global burden is projected to rise dramatically to about 153 million cases by 2050, making dementia a critical public health challenge. With limited preventive strategies available, growing attention has focused on identifying modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors that may influence dementia risk.1 Among these, dietary habits—particularly coffee and tea consumption—have long been hypothesized to play a role in maintaining cognitive health, though prior evidence has been inconsistent.1,2
Some experimental and epidemiological data suggest that habitual coffee and tea intake may influence the risk of overall dementia through multiple biological pathways. Coffee contains bioactive compounds such as caffeine, magnesium, and chlorogenic acid that may reduce β-amyloid production, suppress neuroinflammation, and support memory and learning, although excessive intake may adversely affect cardiovascular health. Tea polyphenols exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may inhibit aggregation of neurodegenerative proteins linked to Alzheimer’s and other disorders.1
A recent study published in the journal “JAMA” has shown that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea is associated with a lower risk of dementia and modest cognitive benefits, whereas decaffeinated coffee shows no clear advantage (see Graphic). Together, these findings underscore the potential importance of moderate coffee and tea intake as part of a brain-healthy lifestyle.2
(Sources: (1) Mazzoleni E, Malavolti M, Rossetti A, et al. Coffee and tea consumption and risk of dementia: A dose-response meta-analysis of cohort and cohort-nested case-control studies. J Epidemiol Popul Health. Published online February 12, 2026. Doi:10.1016/j.jeph.2026.203168 (2) Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li Y, et al. Coffee and tea intake, dementia risk, and cognitive function. JAMA. 2026 Feb 9:e2527259. Doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.27259)