A new long-term study tracking nearly 50,000 women has found that a morning cup of coffee may play a bigger role in aging well than previously thought.
According to research presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s 2025 annual meeting, women who regularly drank caffeinated coffee in midlife showed a higher likelihood of aging with preserved mental function and physical strength.
“The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee—not tea or decaf—may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function,” said Dr. Sara Mahdavi, post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
More Coffee, More Resilience in Later Life
The study reviewed 47,513 participants from the long-running Nurses’ Health Study. Researchers tracked lifestyle, diet, and health data across three decades. Coffee emerged as the top source of caffeine—more than 80% of intake—while other sources like soda and tea showed either no benefit or a negative association with healthy aging.
Women in their 40s to 60s who drank the equivalent of about three small cups of coffee per day had a 2% to 5% higher chance of maintaining mental sharpness and physical ability into their 70s and beyond.
Tea, Soda, and Decaf Fell Short
Unlike coffee, decaffeinated drinks and tea had no observed connection with positive aging outcomes. Worse still, drinking more cola was associated with a 20% to 26% lower likelihood of meeting healthy aging benchmarks.
The findings accounted for various lifestyle factors including smoking, diet, alcohol use, and physical activity.
Moderation Matters
While up to two cups per day appear beneficial for most women, the researchers cautioned against assuming that more caffeine always leads to better results. Genetic factors can impact how individuals process caffeine, and those with lower tolerance may not gain the same benefits.
Coffee contains a variety of compounds that may work together to impact aging processes. Further research is underway to explore how these substances interact with genetic markers and metabolic pathways that influence how we age—especially in women.
Why Coffee May Help
Dr. Mahdavi notes that moderate coffee intake could play a helpful role when paired with healthy habits like exercise and a balanced diet. She emphasized that coffee alone isn’t a miracle solution, but could form part of a larger strategy to support well-being as we age.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
