- Recent studies have highlighted the potential health benefits of coffee, particularly its influence on longevity and reducing chronic disease risk.
- A study suggests that consuming 3 to 4 cups of coffee daily could increase lifespan and may add 5 extra years of life.
- A recent review also indicates that 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day could decrease mortality and lower the risk of some diseases.
- A third piece of research further suggests the health benefits of drinking coffee, especially in women as they get older.
Roughly two-thirds of American adults drink coffee each day, with the average American coffee drinker consuming 3 cups per day.
Given the high consumption levels of coffee, ongoing research is investigating the health consequences of coffee intake. As well as being a favored drink, coffee consumption may also provide numerous health benefits, possibly reducing mortality and lowering disease risk.
Healthy aging refers to the process of maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being throughout life. It typically involves focusing on preventative care and making healthy lifestyle choices, such as being mindful of one’s dietary pattern.
While more research is still necessary, growing evidence is highlighting how coffee consumption may contribute to healthy aging
Medical News Today looks at three recent studies we have covered to offer an overview on the role of coffee and how it may benefit healthy aging.
Health experts can measure this using cellular markers, and those with higher biological ages are at an increased risk for for age-related diseases, cognitive decline, and earlier mortality.
A study published in BMJ Mental Health in November 2025, indicates that consuming 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day could slow premature aging that is typically associated with individuals living with major psychiatric disorders.
The study found that individuals aged 18 to 65 with major psychiatric disorders who drank 3 to 4 cups of coffee per day had longer
This describes repetitive DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes, preventing them from damage. Telomere length shortens with age, making it a valuable cellular marker for gauging biological age.
The telomere length in these moderate coffee drinkers was comparable to those typically seen in people about 5 years younger biologically.
By contrast, participants who reported no coffee consumption had shorter telomere lengths than those who drank the recommended number of cups daily. People who drank more than 4 cups of coffee a day did not have longer telomeres.
This effect may be due to coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds protecting cells from oxidative stress, which is a driver of telomere shortening.
Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a registered dietitian who specializes in heart disease, not involved in the study, explained to MNT:
“Coffee contains bioactive compounds, particularly chlorogenic acids (CGA) and trigonelline, that act as antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals and activating cellular defense pathways to protect DNA from oxidative damage. CGA and trigonelline likely slow telomere shortening by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.”
However, it is important to note that this is a cross-sectional study using data from participants with psychiatric disorders in Norway. As such, it relies on self-reported coffee intake and cannot prove a causative connection.
The researchers note that studies consistently relate coffee consumption to decreased mortality and lower risk of major chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, cognitive decline, and respiratory illnesses, for most people.
Interestingly, the review suggests that drinking three to five cups of coffee daily is associated with a lower risk of death and reduced risk of developing major disease.
The lowest overall mortality risk was observed at around 3.5 cups daily, and both regular and decaffeinated coffee showed these associations.
Review author Farin Kamangar, MD, PhD, CRA, highlighted the main components of the review to MNT:
“The results of several decades of high-quality research on millions of people, show that coffee is overall beneficial to health. Moderate coffee consumption, typically 3 to 5 cups a day, is linked to increased longevity and reduced risks of many major diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and cognitive decline.”
The authors indicate that compounds present in coffee, such as polyphenols, may help improve glucose metabolism, reduce chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and supper better overall metabolic health.
However, the evidence is from observational studies, so they do not prove that coffee directly causes these health benefits.
While more research is still necessary, Kamangar suggested this may lead to a shift in doctors’ coffee discussions.
“For clinicians, the message is clear: For most adults, moderate coffee drinking can be safely encouraged as part of a healthy lifestyle,“ he told us.
“However, there may be some caveats,“ Kamangar cautioned. “Adding sugar and cream can blunt some of coffee’s protective effects, suggesting black coffee or lightly sweetened versions may be best. For optimum results: consult your doctor and consult your body.”
While the possible benefits of drinking coffee may apply to most people, further research is necessary to identify which populations stand to benefit the most, or should exercise caution.
The researchers used data from the Nurses’ Health Study, involving about 47,513 women tracked over decades. For the analysis, the authors defined healthy aging as reaching later life with no major chronic diseases, no physical impairment, no cognitive or memory issues, intact mental health, and no functional limitations.
The findings suggest that higher caffeine intake, primarily from regular caffeinated coffee, was associated with increased likelihood of healthy aging.
Study author Sara Mahdavi, BSc, HBSc, RD, MSc, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University, and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, highlighted the following findings of the study to MNT:
“We found that moderate intake of caffeinated coffee during midlife was modestly associated with healthy aging later in life. We defined healthy aging stringently: Not only surviving into older age, but doing so without major chronic disease, cognitive decline, physical disability, or poor mental health. Each additional cup of coffee was linked to about a 2% higher chance of healthy aging, while cola intake was associated with a 20% lower chance. The association appeared to be dose-responsive for coffee, though modest, and was not observed with decaf or tea, possibly due to lower intake and differences in bioactive content.”
However, the authors note that the findings come from observational data, and the cohort was limited to mostly white women. This means the results may not generalise to other groups.
Additionally, other details like coffee type, additives, and changes in consumption over time were not deeply analysed.
While the study results note the potential benefits of coffee, it is still advisable to consult a doctor about how caffeine might interact with any medications, or impact any underlying conditions.
Mahdavi offered the following caveat: “Coffee is not universally beneficial. Caffeine metabolism varies significantly based on both genetics and hormonal factors, such as estrogen, which slows caffeine clearance.“
“Our prior research has shown that women with slower caffeine metabolism (due to genetic variation in the CYP1A2 gene) may not benefit from high intakes, and could be more susceptible to adverse effects. Personalized nutrition — taking into account both sex and genetic differences — will be key in future recommendations,” she told us.