Recent research indicates that consuming several cups of coffee daily may help people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) avoid cognitive decline. This study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, challenges the long-held belief that individuals with irregular heart rhythms should limit their intake of caffeinated drinks. According to Dr. Jürg H. Beer, the lead author of the study and a professor at the University of Zurich, there is no reason to discourage AFib patients from enjoying coffee. Instead, he suggests they should feel free to indulge as it could be beneficial.
AFib is a common heart rhythm disorder affecting over 5 million individuals in the United States and is associated with an elevated risk of stroke, dementia, and cognitive decline. Traditionally, health experts have advised those with AFib to moderate their consumption of caffeinated drinks, but recent findings have shown little backing for such recommendations. The 2023 guidelines on AFib issued by leading health organizations found no advantage in avoiding coffee for preventing irregular heart rhythms. They did, however, note that those who had caffeine-induced symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue might benefit from limiting their coffee intake.
Prior research has highlighted that coffee consumption can enhance cognition among healthy individuals. Dr. Massimo Barbagallo, the lead researcher of the current study, pointed out that while AFib raises the risk of dementia, the current study aimed to determine if coffee consumption could mitigate this increased risk.
Federal dietary recommendations suggest that three to five 8-ounce cups of black coffee can fit well within a healthy diet. However, the American Heart Association cautions that specialty coffee drinks, like lattes, are often loaded with sugars and fats, which can contribute to higher calorie counts.
In this study, cognitive assessments were analyzed from 2,413 AFib patients drawn from 14 health centers as part of the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study conducted between 2014 and 2017. The participants, who averaged 73 years old, underwent various cognitive tests and reported their coffee consumption over the previous year. The researchers did not standardize cup size or track any additional ingredients like cream or flavored syrups.
Additionally, the study looked into inflammation markers related to both Alzheimer’s disease and AFib. Results indicated that increased coffee consumption correlated with improved cognitive test scores. Those consuming more than five cups of coffee per day performed better in tests measuring attention, processing speed, and visuomotor coordination than those who had less than one cup. Interestingly, cognitive function in heavy coffee drinkers appeared to be roughly 6.7 years “younger” compared to their less caffeinated peers. Furthermore, inflammatory markers were found to be over 20% lower in individuals consuming more than five cups daily compared to those with lower intake.
Beer noted a clear trend showing that higher coffee consumption was consistently linked to better performance across multiple cognitive tests, maintaining this effect even when accounting for variables like age, sex, and physical activity. Previous research suggests that the potential protective effects of coffee on cognitive health in the elderly could stem from caffeine and other active compounds such as magnesium and vitamin B3, as well as coffee’s ability to decrease inflammation-linked chemicals.
Dr. José A. Joglar, an expert who was not part of this research, cautioned that while these findings imply that coffee doesn’t aggravate AFib, they don’t indicate that starting coffee consumption would stave off AFib or prevent long-term cognitive decline.
In summary, this emerging body of research contributes important knowledge on the interaction between coffee consumption and cognitive health, particularly in individuals with AFib, suggesting a potential re-evaluation of previous dietary recommendations for this population.
