P3‐217: Moderate caffeine consumption is associated with better memory scores in clinically normal older adults

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Large epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between moderate caffeine and alcohol consumption and reduced rates of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults, using broad measures of global cognition and clinical decline. In this study, we investigated the relationship between multiple domains of cognitive functioning (memory, executive function, and processing speed) and habitual caffeine and alcohol intake in a well-characterized cross-sectional sample of clinically normal older adults. Our sample included 282 clinically normal (CDR=0) older adults (59% women, aged 65-90 (mean = 73.7), mean education = 15.8 years) participating in the Harvard Aging Brain Study. Approximate daily consumption of any caffeinated and alcoholic beverages was measured by self-report. Composites for Memory, Executive Function, and Processing Speed were computed. Correlations were obtained between the caffeine and alcohol consumption variables, cognitive composite scores, and demographics of age, sex, and estimated Verbal IQ (VIQ). Three backward elimination regressions were run to predict each cognitive factor score, with either caffeine or alcohol intake and relevant potential confounding demographic variables of age, sex, and VIQ included as predictors. Greater caffeine consumption was associated with better Memory performance controlling for age, sex, and VIQ (Beta=0.12, p=0.02). This relationship persisted when moderate caffeine intake (2-5 cups/day) was substituted as a binary category for overall caffeine intake (Beta=0.13, p=0.02). There was no significant relationship between caffeine consumption and executive function or processing speed factor scores. No association was found between alcohol consumption and any of the cognitive factor scores. In clinically normal older adults, better memory is associated with greater caffeine consumption. This may be related to the stimulatory effects of caffeine and provides cross-sectional support for positive longitudinal findings. Although previous epidemiological data suggest that alcohol may have long-term neuroprotective effects, our findings do not support any cross-sectional benefit or deleterious effects on cognition. Future work to corroborate current findings with longitudinal studies will be important.

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