A new study has shown that drinking coffee and tea may have a positive effect on the thickness of the macular retinal nerve fiber layer in the eye, which is an indicator of brain health.
The research was led by a team from the Ophthalmic Epidemiology group at CERA, and the findings were published in the scientific journal Nutrients.
The macula is a small part of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for central vision, while the retinal nerve fiber layer is a thin layer of nerve cells that transmit visual information from the eye to the brain.
The study used the thickness of the macular retinal nerve fiber layer as a measure of the brain’s health, as a thinner layer is associated with a higher risk of neurodegeneration.
The research was inspired by existing evidence that coffee and tea may have protective effects for the brain.
To investigate this, the researchers used data from the UK Biobank study, a large-scale research project in which participants were asked about their coffee and tea consumption over the past year.
The study found that consuming two to three cups of coffee or more than four cups of tea per day was linked to an increase in macular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, which is indicative of better brain health.
Both coffee and tea drinkers benefited from the increased thickness, but it was most pronounced in those who drank two to three cups of coffee per day or more than four cups of tea per day.
However, the researchers emphasized that not all types of coffee are equal in terms of their health benefits.
Previous studies have shown that instant coffee, in particular, could be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases.
Therefore, the researchers recommend consuming good-quality coffee to reap the potential benefits.
The study highlights the importance of understanding the potential health benefits of everyday food and drink.
Many cultures consume coffee and tea almost every day, so it is important to know how these drinks may affect our health.
The study also shows that there is a “sweet spot” for coffee consumption, as drinking too much or too little may not have the same benefits.
The research has important implications for understanding the relationship between diet and brain health.
While further studies are needed to confirm the findings, the study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee and tea consumption may have protective effects on the brain.
This knowledge may help in the development of dietary recommendations that promote optimal brain health and function.
Overall, the study suggests that moderate coffee and tea consumption may support brain health by increasing the thickness of the macular retinal nerve fiber layer in the eye.
However, it is important to keep in mind that not all types of coffee are equal, and further research is needed to confirm the findings.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Vitamin B supplements could help reduce dementia risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that high-fiber diet could help lower the dementia risk, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The study was published in Nutrients.
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