Coffee and ageing: Moderate coffee consumption may be linked to slower premature biological ageing among people with major psychiatric disorders, a new study published in BMJ Mental Health suggests.
Researchers reported that drinking three to five cups of coffee daily was associated with longer telomeres, protective DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age and are commonly used as indicators of cellular ageing.
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People with conditions such as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with psychosis often show shorter telomeres than the general population, a sign of accelerated biological ageing.
In this study, participants who consumed three to five cups a day had telomere lengths comparable to individuals estimated to be about five years younger in biological age. Those who did not drink coffee had shorter telomeres, while people reporting five or more cups daily did not show additional benefits.
The cross-sectional analysis included 436 adults aged 18 to 65 recruited from four psychiatric units in Oslo as part of the Norwegian Thematically Organised Psychosis study. Data were collected between 2007 and 2018.
The authors suggested coffee’s potential effect could be linked to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, particularly polyphenols, rather than caffeine alone. They also cautioned that excessive intake may worsen sleep quality and increase stress, both of which can influence biological ageing.
The researchers stressed that the findings show an association, not a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Coffee intake was self-reported, and details such as brewing method, strength, timing and all medication use were not fully captured.
