Overview
- Drinking three to four cups a day was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres, equating to roughly five years younger biological age versus non-drinkers.
- The analysis included 436 adults from Norway’s TOP cohort with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder with psychosis.
- Telomere lengths formed a J-shaped pattern across intake groups, with no benefit at five or more cups and potential cellular harm at higher doses.
- Results align with common guidance to limit caffeine to about 400 mg a day, while authors suggested antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds as a plausible explanation.
- Limitations included self-reported consumption, no data on coffee type, timing or blood caffeine levels, and high smoking rates that could confound results.