It’s not the coffee itself that’s the problem, but how you drink it. A major medical study has just established a worrying link between the way you consume coffee and accelerated aging of the brain.
It is an essential ritual for millions of people upon waking up. Every morning, we prepare our cup of coffee with the firm conviction of replenishing our energy and taking care of our health. Moreover, a previous study had shown that drinking 3 cups of coffee per day was excellent for your health. However, the way we consume this drink could hold very unpleasant surprises for our brain in the long term. According to researchers, a reflex that we think is completely harmless could actually precipitate the aging of neurons.
A large study carried out among 12,772 adults (average age 52) and followed for 8 years has indeed just issued a serious alert. Published in the prestigious journal Neurology, this work reveals that the biggest fans of this habit see their cognitive abilities (verbal memory, fluency of language or speed of processing information) deteriorate at a worrying rate. Among the heaviest consumers, researchers measured an acceleration of brain deterioration equivalent to 1.6 years of additional aging compared to low consumers.
Whether they are slipped in the form of tablets in our cups of coffee or consumed via “light” sodas and ultra-processed products, most synthetic sweeteners are targeted by the authors. Aspartame, saccharin, erythritol, xylitol, acesulfame K and sorbitol are among the compounds in question. In the study, participants who consumed the most (around 191 mg per day, the equivalent of a can of zero/diet soda or around 4 to 6 sugar cubes) showed cognitive decline 62% faster than those who consumed the least (20 mg/day). Even moderate consumers showed an accelerated decline of 35%. Of the seven sweeteners analyzed, only tagatose seems to be an exception.
This effect was particularly marked in adults under 60, while it faded in older people. People with diabetes are also among those most at risk, due to their frequent use of sweeteners to avoid blood sugar spikes. “We found associations with cognitive decline in middle-aged people, with and without diabetes“, summarizes Dr. Claudia Kimie Suemoto, from the University of São Paulo.
Should we suddenly eliminate all sweets? The authors point out that this study remains observational: it highlights a statistical link, but does not demonstrate a direct cause and effect relationship. Other lifestyle or overall health factors could also come into play. However, these results suggest caution. Rather than replacing sweeteners with white sugar or natural syrups (honey, maple syrup) which pose other health problems and cause strong spikes in blood sugar, experts recommend above all getting rid of the sweet taste. The best strategy remains to gradually reduce the doses in order to reaccustom your palate to the natural flavors of foods and drinks.
