Coffee linked to slower biological ageing among those with severe mental illness
5 days ago
- #ageing
- #mental health
- #coffee
- Coffee consumption up to four cups per day is linked to longer telomeres in people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
- Longer telomeres are associated with a biological age five years younger than non-coffee drinkers.
- The positive effect peaks at three to four cups per day; more than four cups reduces benefits.
- Telomere shortening is accelerated in people with severe mental illness, contributing to a 15-year shorter life expectancy.
- Coffee may reduce oxidative stress, slowing biological ageing processes like telomere shortening.
- The study involved 436 participants with severe mental illness, accounting for age, sex, ethnicity, medication, and tobacco use.
- The NHS recommends limiting caffeine intake to 400 mg/day (about four cups of coffee).
- Further research is needed to confirm causality and explore the impact of coffee type and caffeine concentration.
- The study was funded by Norwegian and UK research organizations, with ongoing investigations into lifestyle factors and stress.