"Among a group of older women selfreported caffeine consumption of more than  mg per day was associated with a  percent reduction in the risk of incident dementia over  years of followup. This level is equivalent to two to three oz cups of coffee per day five to six oz cups of black tea or seven to eight ounce cans of cola. The mounting evidence of caffeine consumption as a potentially protective factor against cognitive impairment is exciting given that caffeine is also an easily modifiable dietary factor with very few contraindications said Ira Driscoll PhD the studys lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. What is unique about this study is that we had an unprecedented opportunity to examine the relationships between caffeine intake and dementia incidence in a large and welldefined prospectivelystudied cohort of women. The findings come from participants in the Womens Health Initiative Memory Study which is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Driscoll and her research colleagues used data from  communitydwelling postmenopausal women aged  and older who reported some level of caffeine consumption. Intake was estimated from questions about coffee tea and cola beverage intake including frequency and serving size. In  years or less of followup with annual assessments of cognitive function  of these women received a diagnosis of probable dementia or some form of global cognitive impairment. Those who consumed above the median amount of caffeine for this group with an average intake of  mg per day were diagnosed at a lower rate than those who fell below the median with an average intake of  mg per day. The researchers adjusted for risk factors such as hormone therapy age race education body mass index sleep quality depression hypertension prior cardiovascular disease diabetes smoking and alcohol consumption.  The paper Relationships Between Caffeine Intake and Risk for Probable Dementia or Global Cognitive Impairment The Womens Health Initiative Memory Study is available at httpbiomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.orgcontentearlygerona.glw Direct correspondence to  Ira Driscoll PhD  Department of Psychology University of WisconsinMilwaukee   Garland Hall  East  Hartford Avenue Milwaukee WI   Email driscoliuwm.edu mailtodriscoliuwm.edu Sharing on social media Find Oxford Journals online at OxfordJournals httpstwitter.comOxfordJournals"