Overview

• A study in Food Science & Nutrition found a 6.92-fold increased risk of dry age-related macular degeneration among instant coffee drinkers.
• Researchers compared instant, ground and decaffeinated coffee, finding no significant link between non-instant brews and AMD.
• Genetic analysis of UK Biobank data suggested shared DNA variants between instant coffee consumption and dry AMD susceptibility.
• Substances such as acrylamide formed during instant coffee processing may trigger retinal inflammation linked to AMD.
• People at high risk for AMD are advised to avoid instant coffee and consider switching to ground brews to lower their risk.