Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A new comprehensive review has shed light on the relationship between coffee consumption and healthy aging. Researchers found that drinking coffee daily could add up to two years of healthy aging to one’s lifespan, offering significant insights as the global population ages rapidly.
Coffee, one of the world’s most extensively researched commodities, has been linked to reduced mortality risks in over 50 studies. Evidence suggests that regular coffee consumption can lower the risk of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses, cognitive decline, and frailty
The European Food Safety Authority considers a daily caffeine intake of up to 400 milligrams which is equivalent to three to five cups of coffee, as a moderate and safe for most adults.
Published in the journal Aging Research Reviews, the study highlights how moderate, regular coffee consumption could be a vital component of a healthy and balanced lifestyle for older adults.
“With the global population aging faster than ever, it’s crucial to explore dietary interventions that allow people not only to live longer but also to enjoy healthier lives,” said Rodrigo Cunha, the lead author and a biochemist at the University of Coimbra, as reported by Earth.com.
By focusing on studies involving humans and human tissues, the review provided a clearer understanding of coffee’s health benefits, avoiding the limitations of animal studies.
According to the review, drinking coffee could extend the average healthy lifespan by 1.8 years, supporting not just longer life expectancy but also better health during those additional years. Importantly, these benefits were observed in both men and women, suggesting coffee’s positive impact transcends gender-specific nutritional interventions.
Coffee’s Role in Slowing Biological Aging
While caffeine is the most well-known compound in coffee, the drink contains over 2,000 bioactive substances. Among these, polyphenols offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially reducing neuroinflammation and regulating insulin sensitivity. Therefore, these bioactive substances could prevent from getting chronic disease.
Beyond reducing chronic disease risks, the review explored coffee’s impact on biological processes associated with aging. Researchers found that coffee helps reduce genomic instability—a cellular mutation process linked to aging—and enhances overall cellular function.
Traditional clinical advice has often recommended reducing or avoiding coffee consumption for older adults. However, the study’s findings suggest that such guidelines should be revisited in light of growing evidence supporting coffee’s role in promoting healthy aging.
“Traditional clinical recommendations have at times overlooked coffee’s role in healthy aging,” said Cunha. “Wiith a strong research base around how regular consumption can potentially reduce some of the most chronic diseases facing society, it is likely time to re-evaluate these.”
Future Research
Although both caffeine and non-caffeine compounds in coffee contribute to extending healthy lifespans, much remains unknown about their precise mechanisms.
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The study’s authors emphasize the need for further research to uncover how these compounds work and to identify individuals who may benefit most from coffee’s unique properties.
This review underscores the role of regular, moderate coffee consumption in mediating biological processes that naturally slow or fail with age, which can lead to various health challenges. As the world faces an unprecedented aging population, the humble cup of coffee may offer more than just a morning boost but could be a key ingredient for healthier, longer lives.
(Raidi/Agung)
