By Moiz Mustafa Courtesy Daily Mirror

Colombo, Feb. 14 (Daily Mirror) – In Sri Lanka, tea and coffee are not lifestyle accessories. They are part of who we are. The first cup at dawn steadies the morning. The mid-afternoon brew carries conversations across office tables and village verandas. The evening cup slows the day down. So when global headlines began declaring that two or three cups a day could lower the risk of dementia, it was never going to be ignored here.

The renewed attention comes from one of the largest long-term investigations into caffeine and brain health ever conducted. Researchers analysing data from 131,821 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study in the United States tracked volunteers for up to 43 years. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that people who regularly consumed caffeinated coffee or tea had a 15 to 20 per cent lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who rarely drank either beverage.

The numbers are striking. Participants who consumed the highest amounts of caffeinated coffee showed an 18 per cent lower dementia risk. Those who drank one to two cups of caffeinated tea daily also demonstrated a meaningful reduction in risk. The most consistent benefit appeared among individuals drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day or one to two cups of tea. Importantly, decaffeinated coffee showed no significant association with lower dementia risk, pointing to caffeine as a possible key factor.

Beyond diagnosis alone, habitual coffee drinkers in the study performed better on objective cognitive tests and reported less subjective cognitive decline over time. These details matter because dementia is not a single event but a gradual process that unfolds over years.

Another major body of evidence from the United Kingdom strengthens the conversation. Data from the UK Biobank, which followed more than 365,000 adults aged 50 to 74 for an average of 11 years, found that moderate tea and coffee consumption was associated with lower risks of dementia and stroke. Taken together, these large-scale cohort studies have pushed caffeine and cognitive health into the global spotlight.

Why Tea and Coffee may support brain health

Scientists believe the explanation lies in the chemistry of the cup. Tea and coffee contain polyphenols and antioxidants that may reduce inflammation and combat oxidative stress, both of which contribute to brain ageing. Caffeine itself has been linked to improved vascular function and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a condition strongly associated with increased dementia risk.

Healthy blood vessels are essential for a healthy brain. When circulation is compromised, cognitive decline often follows. The possibility that moderate caffeine intake may support vascular health offers one biological pathway that could explain the observed associations.

However, it is crucial to be clear. These are observational studies. They show correlation, not proof of cause and effect. Researchers cannot say that drinking coffee or tea directly prevents dementia. Other lifestyle factors may influence the results. For example, individuals who avoid caffeine sometimes do so because of existing health issues such as hypertension, which itself increases dementia risk. Separating these variables completely is challenging.

Dementia in Sri Lanka: A growing concern

For Sri Lanka, the conversation is urgent. An estimated 200,000 Sri Lankans are currently living with dementia, and that number is expected to rise significantly as the population ages. Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders already account for thousands of deaths annually. Yet dementia often remains hidden behind closed doors, quietly managed by families who view memory loss as an inevitable part of ageing rather than a medical condition requiring structured care.

This is why the global research resonates locally. We are one of the world’s most recognised tea-producing nations. Tea is woven into our identity. Coffee culture is expanding rapidly in urban centres. But our context is unique. Sri Lankan tea is often strong, sweet and prepared with milk. Dietary patterns, genetics, healthcare access and lifestyle behaviours differ from the Western populations studied.

At present, Sri Lanka does not have large-scale national research specifically examining tea or coffee consumption and dementia risk within our own communities. That gap highlights the need for local scientific inquiry before drawing firm conclusions tailored to our population.

The Real takeaway for Sri Lankans

So should Sri Lankans start counting cups as a form of brain insurance? Not quite. The evidence suggests moderation is key. Two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea per day appears to be the range associated with lower dementia risk in international studies. More is not necessarily better. Excess caffeine can disrupt sleep and increase anxiety, both of which negatively affect cognitive health.

Brain protection does not come from a single habit. It comes from a pattern of living. Regular physical activity, quality sleep, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, maintaining social connections and keeping the mind intellectually active all play powerful roles in reducing dementia risk. A cup of tea shared with friends may support brain health not only because of its antioxidants, but because of the conversation and connection that accompany it.

The global research has not delivered a miracle cure. What it has delivered is a reminder. Everyday habits matter. Lifestyle choices accumulate over decades. And sometimes the rituals we cherish may carry benefits beyond comfort.

In Sri Lanka, the kettle will continue to boil. The real question is whether we use these moments to talk openly about dementia, support ageing parents with dignity, and invest in healthier futures. If a simple cup of tea or coffee sparks that awareness, then it may already be contributing more to brain health than any headline alone can capture.

For a clearer understanding of what the research really means, explore our concise 2-minute AI explainer. Click here

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RX2v8gzj5Ic%3Fsi%3DEuxAG11RgWlQjVGa