(P22-039-25) Caffeine Intake and Healthy Aging in Women

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between caffeine intake in midlife and the likelihood of healthy aging (HA) in women in older adulthood in participants in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS).

Methods: A total of 47,513 women from NHS with dietary and health data collected since 1984 were included. Caffeine intake was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires FFQs covering coffee, tea, cola, and decaf, with baseline exposures calculated as the mean of 1984 and 1986 FFQs. HA was defined as living to age ≥ 70, being free from 11 major chronic diseases (MCD), having no physical function limitations (PFL), no mental health or cognitive impairments (GMH), and no memory complaints (NMC) per 2014/2016 questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for caffeine intake per 80 mg/day and for main dietary sources: coffee, tea, and decaf (per 8oz cup/day) and cola (per 12oz glass/day), adjusted for age, BMI, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, education, and dietary protein.

Results: By 2016, 3,706 women met all criteria for the definition of HA. The median baseline caffeine intake for 1984-86 was 315 mg/day and regular coffee contributed to over 80% of caffeine intake. After a 30y follow-up, total caffeine intake was modestly associated with higher likelihood of HA, OR per 80mg caffeine increments/day (1.01; 1.00-1.03) and MCD (1.02; 1.01–1.03), PFL (1.01; 1.00–1.02) and GMH (1.01; 1.00–1.01) and NMC (1.01; 1.00–1.02). For the primary sources of caffeine, regular coffee intake was associated with higher odds of HA, OR per cup increment/day (1.05; 1.02–1.08) and with 2% to 5% higher odds of each HA domain. Decaffeinated coffee and tea intake were not significantly associated with odds of HA nor any domains. Cola intake was associated with worse outcomes in HA, OR per glass increment/day (0.81; 0.69-0.94) and with 20% to 26% lower odds of each HA domain.

Conclusions: Caffeine and regular coffee intake in midlife were modestly and favorably associated with HA and all its domains among women. However, no associations were observed with tea or decaffeinated coffee, whereas higher cola intake was associated with reduced likelihood of HA and all its domains.

Funding Sources: NIH