Reducing your risk of dementia without medication would be possible. A new study has shown that drinking 2 to 3 coffees per day is associated with better cognitive abilities such as memory or concentration.
Pointed out for its exciting effects on the heart, coffee is today rehabilitated by science, which recognizes its numerous health benefits when consumed in moderation. Very recently in February 2026, a large study published in the famous medical journal JAMA confirms its positive effects on health and in particular on the brain. According to the results, consuming two to three cups of coffee per day (espresso type) would be associated with a lower risk of dementia during aging.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from more than 131,000 adults aged on average 46 to 53 years old, from two large American cohorts, followed for several decades. The participants did not present dementia at the start of follow-up and regularly reported their coffee (caffeinated or decaffeinated) or tea consumption using detailed dietary questionnaires. A total of 11,033 cases of dementia have been recorded over time. The results showed that people who consumed 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day (one cup is considered to be equivalent to one espresso, or a caffeine dose of 80 mg) had a reduced risk of dementia by around 18% compared to those who drank the least. A comparable trend was observed for tea. On the other hand, no beneficial effect was found with decaffeinated coffee, which suggests a central role for caffeine.
The researchers in this large study were also interested in everyday cognitive abilities. High coffee consumption was associated with fewer complaints about memory, attention or concentration, and, in some participants, better results on standardized cognitive tests administered over the phone. The analysis also took into account numerous factors likely to influence the risk of dementia, such as age, level of physical activity, smoking, overall diet and medical history. Even after these adjustments, the association between moderate coffee consumption and reduced dementia risk persisted. This robustness reinforces the interest of these results, even if it does not make it possible to establish a direct causal link.
These benefits can be explained by the presence of caffeine and antioxidant compounds, such as polyphenols, known for their role in oxidative stress and inflammation, two mechanisms involved in brain aging. In a context where dementia prevention options remain limited and often medication-based, these data nevertheless shed encouraging light on simple habits, already well established in daily life.
The study published in JAMA in February 2026 did not set a “maximum dose” of coffee in the sense of a threshold of toxicity or danger, but several health authorities (such as the EFSA in Europe) continue to recommend a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day (i.e. 4 to 5 espressos) to avoid other side effects which were not the subject of this study, such as heart rhythm disturbances, anxiety or degradation of quality sleep. Contrary to popular belief, a large cup of filter coffee often contains more caffeine than a small espresso, because the water stays in contact with the coffee grounds longer.
