A new study highlights the potential cognitive benefits of regular coffee consumption for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart arrhythmia that significantly increases the risk of stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia.
The research, involving more than 2,400 participants, found a dose-dependent association between daily coffee intake and enhanced cognitive performance, with as little as one cup a day shown to increase performance.
Patients consuming more than five cups per day demonstrated the highest cognitive scores, equating to a reduction in “cognitive age” by 6.7 years, based on standardized tests like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), according to the study.
Led by a team based in Switzerland and involving a cohort of Swiss patients, the study was recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
The authors noted that atrial fibrillation affects approximately 5% of individuals over the age of 65 years old, with prevalence rising sharply with age. The condition is linked to a fivefold increase in stroke risk and a significant likelihood of developing cognitive issues, including dementia.
The research team found that even one cup of coffee daily was associated with measurable improvements in cognitive performance in patients with AF, including with smokers and people with diabetes.
The study also found that coffee consumption was linked to significant reductions in key inflammatory markers in the AF population.
The cognitive results are compelling considering that population (five or more cups with AF) also had the highest risk profile, including highest BMI, most active smokers, highest incidence of diabetes, lowest education level and lowest level of physical activity.
The study also pointed out some potential documented risks of high coffee consumption, including elevated blood pressure in some patients. However, recent research has shown no significant link between moderate-to-high coffee intake — up to five cups daily — and an increased risk of arrhythmias, AF, or other cardiovascular issues.
In short, the Swiss research team wrote, “Coffee consumption in elderly patients with AF should not be discouraged.”
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