Drink Coffee to Keep Your Mind Sharp as You Age

It's no secret that things change when you get older. You don't move as fast. You might not be as strong. You might experience changes in your weight and eating habits. It's a normal part of the aging process. But a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you maintain your quality of life.

However, developing dementia, Alzheimer's, or age-related memory loss, can make growing older a lot more challenging. But is there anything you can do about it? A recent study that tracked about 6,500 people suggests there is. And is something simple most people will enjoy.

Drink more coffee to prevent dementia. Researchers found that older people who drink two to three cups of coffee a day are less likely to develop dementia than those who don't. So what is it about coffee that helps keep your brain sharp? It's the caffeine that acts as a mild stimulant and provides protective benefits to parts of the brain linked to memory, says lead researcher

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee? A typical cup of coffee contains 60 to 80 milligrams of caffeine. People who consumed 261 milligrams of caffeine a day or more were 36 percent less likely to develop dementia and age-related memory loss than those who didn't.

Want to experience the benefits of coffee and keep your mind sharp as you age? Drink more coffee, tea, or caffeinated drinks. About three cups a day is enough. But stay away empty-calorie-caffeinated drinks and avoid loading your coffee or tea with sugar and cream.

If coffee is your drink of choice for breakfast, it's the perfect beverage to compliment a healthy breakfast like Breakfast Scramble with Asparagus and Hash Browns, Ham & Cheese Fluffy Fritatta, Hash Browns and Broccoli, Whole Grain Pancakes & Sausage Patties with Sweet Potatoes and Cinnamon Apples or one of many other meals on the Senior-Friendly menu.