A groundbreaking new study suggests that a daily coffee habit could significantly slow down the body's internal ageing clock for individuals living with severe mental illness.
The Power of Four Cups
Research published in the BMJ Mental Health journal has found that consuming up to four cups of coffee each day could slow biological ageing by the equivalent of five years for people with conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The investigation followed 436 adult participants, including 259 diagnosed with schizophrenia and others with affective disorders such as major depressive disorder with psychosis and bipolar disorder.
How Coffee Protects Your Cells
Scientists observed that this remarkable effect is likely due to coffee's potent antioxidant compounds, which help protect telomeres – the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten as we age.
According to researchers, "Telomeres are highly sensitive to both oxidative stress and inflammation, further highlighting how coffee intake could help preserve cellular [health] in a population whose pathophysiology may be predisposing them to an accelerated rate."
The study revealed that participants with schizophrenia tended to consume considerably more coffee than those with other affective conditions. However, the research also identified a crucial limit to coffee's benefits.
The Important Limitations
Those who drank more than five cups of coffee daily did not experience these anti-ageing benefits. Researchers cautioned that exceeding recommended intake levels could potentially cause cellular harm and lead to telomere shortening.
The study had certain constraints, as it didn't document other caffeine sources participants might have consumed, the variety of coffee they drank, or when they consumed it throughout the day.
Global health bodies typically advise restricting caffeine consumption to a maximum of 400mg daily, which equates to roughly four cups of coffee – aligning perfectly with the study's findings.
