Latest news with #healthyAging
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Secret to aging 'healthily': Trick to boost longevity and reduce chronic disease revealed
A morning cup of java could be doing more than help women wake up in the morning - because it could also aid with aging. Research from Harvard University has found a connection between drinking coffee and healthy aging in women, with the findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando on Monday. The in-depth analysis found that middle-aged women who drank caffeinated coffee aged 'healthily' - which was defined as living to age 70 or older, being free from 11 major chronic diseases, maintaining physical function, having good mental health, exhibiting no cognitive impairment and showing no memory complaints. However, the researchers didn't find any links between tea or decaf coffee and aging better. On the other hand, drinking more cola was linked with lowering the chance of healthy aging. 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,' Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, said. 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee, not tea or decaf, may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' Researchers started collecting data from women who were part of the Nurses' Health Study in 1984, tracking almost 48,000 participants aged between 45 and 60. All participants filled out surveys providing details about their diet and health across a span of 30 years with all data being recorded and analyzed. The researchers assessed caffeine intake using validated food frequency questionnaires which included drinking popular forms of caffeine, including coffee, tea, cola and decaffeinated coffee. Preliminary analyses accounted for other factors that might influence healthy aging, such as body weight, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, education level and protein in the diet. 'Our study has several key strengths,' Dr. Mahdavi explained. 'In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study,' she added. The researchers found that those deemed 'healthy agers' typically consumed an average of 315mg of caffeine per day, which in today's standards is the equivalent to three small cups of coffee or one and a half large cups. 'More than 80 percent of that caffeine came from regular coffee consumption,' the press release noted. It continued: 'For women in the healthy agers group, each extra cup of coffee per day was tied to a two percent to five percent higher chance of doing well later in life.' However, it noted that although soda also contains caffeine, participants who people drank it daily had a 20 percent to 26 percent lower likelihood of healthy aging, showing that not all types of caffeine are beneficial. The study also noted that drinking up to two cups a day may offer additional benefits for some but may not be healthy for others. There are some limitations to the study, with Dr. Mahdavi pointing out that the participants were mainly white, educated, female, health professionals. 'Further work is needed to confirm generalizability to broader populations,' she told Fox News Digital. While she doesn't recommend starting to drink coffee if it's not already a part of your diet, she says it can contribute to a balanced diet for those who drink it. 'For people who already consume moderate amounts — typically two to four cups per day — this study adds to the evidence that coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle,' the expert explained. A study published earlier in the year found that drinking between one and several cups of coffee before midday was found to cut the risk of heart and circulatory diseases by a whopping 31 percent, in comparison with those who drink it throughout the day. Research suggests the time you enjoy an espresso or flat white is more important to your health than how much you drink. In the first study to examine the time it is consumed, researchers used data from more than 40,000 US adults taking part in studies examining health, nutrition and lifestyle over a decade. They found distinct patterns of coffee drinking, with 36 percent enjoying it before midday, 16 percent consuming coffee throughout the day and half not drinking it at all.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Drinking coffee helps women age better, landmark 30-year study finds
Findings from new research three decades in the making suggest that women who drink coffee age better. Analysis of almost 50,000 women over 32 years has revealed that those who drank coffee in midlife were more likely to exhibit health ageing, and that it could help them stay sharp, strong and mentally well. The research, which was presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual conference in Orlando, did not see the same link with healthy ageing with those who drank tea or decaffeinated coffee. 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,' Dr Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University who led the research said. 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee—not tea or decaf—may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' The study included 47,513 women from the Nurses' Health Study, a large-scale American research scheme with dietary and health data. The participants were aged between 45 and 60 when they were enrolled in the research in 1984, which saw them complete surveys on their diet, health and lifestyle - including their caffeine intake - every four years. Healthy aging was defined as living to age 70 or older and being free from 11 major chronic diseases such as cancer or type 2 diabetes. It also included maintaining physical function, having good mental health, exhibiting no cognitive impairment and showing no memory complaints. By 2016, 3,706 of the women in the study met all the requirements for being considered healthy agers. In mid-life, these women typically consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine per day — roughly the amount in three small cups of coffee by today's standards. More than 80 per cent of that caffeine came from regular coffee consumption. For women in the healthy agers group, each extra cup of coffee per day was tied to a 2 per cent to 5 per cent higher chance of doing well later in life. The findings presented were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but are yet to appear in a peer-reviewed journal. The NHS advises people not to drink more than four cups of coffee a day, as it may increase your blood pressure. 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,' said Dr Mahdavi. 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking. 'While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
How much coffee you need to age healthily
Drinking four cups of coffee a day boosts a person's chances of avoiding sickness as they age, a Harvard study has found. The biggest coffee drinkers, who consume four strong 150mg Americanos a day, had a 13 per cent higher chance of healthy ageing than people who drank almost no coffee at all, the scientists said. Almost 50,000 women were followed by Harvard academics for 30 years in a comprehensive investigation into the health benefits of caffeine consumption on ageing. The research found that caffeine itself was linked to marginal health improvements. However, 80 per cent of all caffeine ingested came from coffee and when focusing on coffee specifically, the effect was found to be stronger. There was no benefit for tea or decaffeinated coffee, however. 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of ageing over three decades,' said Dr Sara Mahdavi, study author from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support ageing trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' Fewer than 4,000 of the women in the study met the criteria for 'healthy ageing', marked as at least 70 years of age and free of any major chronic health conditions, with no memory or cognition problems and no mental health concerns. Caffeinated soda drinks were found to have a negative impact on health and one glass a day lowered the odds of healthy ageing by almost a fifth. 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,' said Dr Mahdavi. 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking. 'While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy ageing, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation.' She told The Telegraph the women who aged well 'were also eating well, exercising and avoiding smoking', adding: 'Coffee may support healthy ageing when it's part of an overall healthy lifestyle but it's not the main driver.' Less likely to die of heart disease The study was presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando and supports a 2022 study which found that moderate coffee drinkers of three cups a day were 12 per cent less likely to die over an 11-year period. They were also 17 and 21 per cent less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, respectively, according to researchers at Semmelweis University in Budapest and Queen Mary University in London. Previous research from scientists at Soochow University in China also found three cups of coffee a day halves the risk of developing numerous heart conditions. The research revealed that people who drank three cups a day were 48 per cent less likely to develop multiple cardio-metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. The study also found that drinking two cups of tea daily reduced the likelihood of developing these conditions by a third, compared with drinking none.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Just 16 sips of common drink per day protects from DEMENTIA... and the beverages that raise risk
Scientists have pinpointed a benefit of a morning cup of coffee beyond an energy boost. A study found drinking at least one eight-ounce cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning – a mere 16 sips – helps women age more healthily. That includes a lower risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline which is linked to dementia, and physical limitations. A public health expert at Harvard University reviewed data on 47,000 women, many of whom provided dietary, lifestyle, and health data since 1984. Dr Sara Mahdavi, who led the study, said: 'In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study.' Dr Madhavi defined 'healthy aging' as living to age 70 or older, free of 11 chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, mobility problems, having good mental health, and no cognitive impairment or memory problems. With each additional cup of coffee per day, though generally no more that two and a half cups, the women in the healthy agers group had a five percent greater chance of maintaining their physical and brain health later in life. Dr Madhavi said: 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee, not tea or decaf, may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' After 30 years of tracking, Dr Mahdavi concluded that every extra 80 milligrams of caffeine per day – about one small cup of coffee – had a one percent higher chance of meeting healthy aging criteria. It also improved every aspect of health, including disease prevention, mobility, and mental sharpness, by two to five percent. While coffee protected against diseases linked to old age, soda had the opposite effect. Each daily glass of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or other soft drinks was linked with a 19 percent lower chance of aging healthily and a 25 percent lower chance of meeting the healthy aging criteria. After tracking more than 47,000 women since 1984, only about 3,700 – just eight percent – met all the healthy aging criteria by 2016. In middle age (45 to 60), the healthy agers drank about 315mg of caffeine per day, the equivalent of about three standard cups. Coffee accounted for over 80 percent of their caffeine intake. The researchers did not find any significant association between drinking decaffeinated coffee or tea with an increased likelihood of healthy aging. 'Our study has several key strengths,' Dr Mahdavi said. 'In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study.' Researchers behind the Nurses' Health Study issued two questionnaires every two years to roughly 122,000 registered nurses ages 30-55 at the study's start, asking about their dietary habits, medical history, lifestyle (smoking, exercise, caffeine intake, etc.), as well as menopause status, hormone use, and mental health status. The study also collected blood, urine, and other bodily samples to examine biomarkers such as chronic inflammation. Some of the nurses have been tracked for over 40 years. The health benefits of moderate amounts of coffee have been studied for years, and scientists have linked the morning mainstay to reduced risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder. It has also been linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A 2016 review of 11 studies in more than 29,000 people found that the more coffee they drank, the lower risk of developing the brain-shrinking, memory-robbing condition. And coffee consumption was shown in a Harvard University study to reduce diabetes risk. Men who drank one to three cups of coffee daily had a seven percent reduced risk of developing the chronic disease, while women who drank at least four cups had a 30 percent reduced risk. Dr Mahdavi said: 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades. 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health. Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking.' She will present the full study at Monday's meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Longevity workouts, sleep banking and long covid: The week in Well+Being
You are reading our weekly Well+Being newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Thursday. I think you'll agree with us on this one. Longevity is not just about living longer, it's about feeling good as you age — strong in body and mind. If anyone knows about healthy aging, it's cardiologist Eric Topol, who studied 'super agers' for decades. This week, we're sharing a few things he learned while taking a look at these ultrahealthy older folks. First up? The secret to their success is not all about genetics. With a few lifestyle tweaks, you can dramatically increase your chances of becoming a super ager yourself. But before that …
