Drinking coffee, tea, or both can help lower your risk of stroke and dementia, according to a recent study in PLOS Medicine. Participants who drank moderate amounts of coffee or both coffee and tea were found to have a lower risk of dementia after a stroke.
Because stroke doubles the likelihood of dementia and many strokes are preventable, the researchers wanted to look at the benefits of coffee and / or tea in reducing risk differently. Both drinks contain compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have examined the benefits of coffee and tea in dementia and stroke prevention separately. However, the researchers in the current study wanted to look at coffee and tea in combination.
The researchers used data from the UK biobank. A questionnaire completed by participants from the British biobank assessed their coffee and tea consumption. The amount of coffee and tea consumed was divided into categories ranging from 0 to 4 or more cups per day. In addition to the coffee / tea data, the researchers used hospital records to analyze diagnoses of stroke, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study comprised 13,352 participants.
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The researchers found that both coffee and tea consumption were associated with a lower risk of stroke. The risk of ischemic stroke decreased with increasing use, but not hemorrhagic stroke.
Compared with those who did not drink tea or coffee, the hazard ratio for drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee and 2 to 3 cups of tea per day was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.79; P. <0.001) and 0.62 (95th). % CI 0.51 to 0.75; P <0.001) for stroke or ischemic stroke.
Drinking coffee, tea, or a combination of these was associated with a lower risk of dementia and vascular dementia, but not Alzheimer’s disease. Compared to participants who only drank coffee or tea, participants who drank both coffee and tea were at a lower risk of stroke (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.93; p <0.001), ischemic stroke (HR, 0.89; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.94; p <0.001) dementia (HR 0.92; 95% CI 0.87 to 0.98; p = 0.001) and vascular Dementia (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.72 to.) 0.92; P <0.001)). The combination of coffee and tea was also linked to a lower risk of dementia after a stroke.
The researchers note that participants reported coffee and tea consumption themselves at the beginning, which may not reflect consumption over time. The type of self-certification can also affect accuracy. The researchers also state that participants in the UK biobank tend to be more “health conscious” than non-participants, which can lead to selection bias.
Our results support a link between moderate coffee and tea consumption and the risk of stroke and dementia, ”the researchers conclude. “However, whether providing such information can improve stroke and dementia outcomes remains to be seen.”
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Zhang Y, Yang H, Li S, Li WD, Wang Y. Coffee and tea consumption and risk of developing stroke, dementia, and post-stroke dementia: a cohort study in the UK Biobank. PLoS Med 18 (11): e1003830. doi: 10.1371 / journal.pmed.1003830
This article originally appeared on Psychiatry Advisor
