New research suggests good news for coffee drinkers who want to justify that extra cup of joe in the morning. A new study published in the BMJ Mental Health journal found that our daily coffee routine might just impact how we age. The study’s findings suggest that consuming three or four cups of coffee could slow biological aging in individuals with severe mental illness. The study divided over 400 adults with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder into groups based on how much coffee they consume daily.
The study examined telomere length (TL) as an indicator of cellular aging, suggesting that coffee consumption could help reduce oxidative stress and help prevent biological aging processes like telomere shortening. Telomere length was measured via blood samples. Researchers found a significant difference in telomere length between those who drank no coffee vs. those who drank one to three cups, three to four cups, or five or more cups of coffee per day.
Unlike chronological age, which we cannot control, this study comes at a timely release, as many health-focused individuals have begun examining ways to biohack longevity and alter biological age. Biological age is affected by a variety of lifestyle habits and external factors, such as food and drink consumption (and could also be impacted by how much coffee we consume).
Overall, the results of this study suggest that those who consume three or four cups of coffee could have longer telomeres than non-coffee drinkers, comparable to about 5 years younger in biological age. While the study is just the beginning, and more research is needed to draw further conclusions, this study highlights how coffee consumption and habits can have an impact on our health.
