The thinking skills of older women may be protected by caffeine, according to a new study published in the August 7, 2007 issue of Neurology (the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology).

According to the said study, women aged 65 and older who drank more than three cups of coffee (or the equivalent in tea) per day had less decline over time on tests of memory than women who drank one cup or less of coffee or tea per day.

Said study author Karen Ritchie, PhD, of INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, in Montpellier, France:

"Caffeine is a psychostimulant which appears to reduce cognitive decline in women. While we have some ideas as to how this works biologically, we need to have a better understanding of how caffeine affects the brain before we can start promoting caffeine intake as a way to reduce cognitive decline.

But the results are interesting - caffeine use is already widespread and it has fewer side effects than other treatments for cognitive decline, and it requires a relatively small amount for a beneficial effect."

Stuff like this makes me want to drink more coffee, though I can't go beyond the 3 cups of coffee daily. Otherwise, I'd be awake all night and then I will hate it in the morning because I'd be cranky. However, i doubt if I can still drink that much coffee or caffeine in my 60s (if I get there hopefully) because I would like to be able to still get a decent amount of sleep in my older age.

What about you, do you drink coffee? Do you think you can still be drinking coffee in your 60's?

Source: American Academy of Neurology