Up to Four Cups of Coffee Could Make You Biologically Younger

This world’s most popular beverage not only energizes us but may also help slow biological aging. The study also suggests coffee could have benefits for people with mental health conditions. The World Health Organization recommends limiting consumption to no more than four cups a day.
These conclusions come from a new study conducted by researchers at King’s College London. The study found that regular coffee consumption was associated with a biological age roughly five years younger.
The team reports that slowing the shortening of telomeres may be the mechanism behind this — slowing telomere shortening is linked to slower aging and could benefit people with mental health conditions.
“The study showed that consuming up to four cups a day is associated with longer telomeres, particularly in individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,” said graduate student Vid Mlakhar, a co-author of the study.

How did the scientists find this out?

One of the most reliable markers of biological aging is telomere length. These protective “caps” at the ends of chromosomes prevent DNA from fraying and breaking.
Like the rest of our DNA, telomeres become damaged with age. The shorter the telomeres, the older the person. Unlike most other parts of our genome, telomeres cannot self-repair, as reported by IFLScience.
Telomere length is largely inherited and is influenced by factors such as sex, race, and ethnicity. Telomere health is also affected by mental health. “Recent studies have shown that telomeres in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are shorter than those of their healthy peers,” noted Monika Aas, the senior author of the study.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the relationship between coffee consumption and telomere length in individuals with schizophrenia or affective disorders,” the report said.
The team included 436 adults diagnosed with the aforementioned mental health conditions. The scientists measured the participants’ telomere lengths and compared the results with their daily coffee intake.

So, does coffee really slow aging?

Ultimately, the researchers found a correlation between coffee consumption and cellular aging, as measured by telomere length, particularly in patients with mental disorders.
This conclusion held even after accounting for age, sex, ethnicity, medication use, tobacco use, and other factors. The researchers wrote, “Our new study suggests that coffee consumption may slow biological aging. The expert-recommended limit of four cups a day is associated with longer telomeres.” However, increasing daily caffeine intake did not produce statistically significant additional effects.
The team hypothesizes that the effect may come from caffeine’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but that idea still needs confirmation in future studies.
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