A study has found that people with major psychiatric conditions may age more slowly at the cellular level if they drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day.
This moderate habit was tied to longer telomeres, a marker of biological aging. Drinking more than four cups did not show the same effect. Researchers suggest coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds may play a role.
Moderate Coffee Intake and Slower Biological Aging
Research published in the open-access journal BMJ Mental Health reports that drinking up to 3-4 cups of coffee a day may help slow the biological aging of people with severe mental illness. This amount of coffee was linked to longer telomeres—indicators of cellular aging—and the researchers estimate that this difference is roughly equal to 5 extra biological years when compared with people who do not drink coffee.
These potential benefits were not seen at higher levels of consumption. The 3-4 cup limit also matches the daily maximum recommended by major health bodies, including the NHS and the US Food and Drug Administration.
What Telomeres Are and Why They Matter
Telomeres sit at the ends of chromosomes and function much like the plastic tips that prevent shoelaces from unraveling. Telomere shortening naturally occurs with age, but the process appears to happen more quickly in people with major psychiatric disorders. The researchers note that this includes conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
