Does coffee really help you focus? The answer is complicated. A 2021 study was conducted that concluded that a cup of coffee in the morning could actually have the opposite effect. Today, we will be taking a look at this study.
32 daily coffee drinkers, and 24 non coffee drinkers were each given a questionnaire that measured their levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Each participant then received a resting state functional MRI. This measured connectivity in a few different parts of the brain.
The coffee drinker group showed significantly less functional connectivity in the somatosensory (processes sensations like pressure, pain, and warmth), and the limbic (processes memory formation and other emotional responses). Less connectivity in the subcortical and posterior brain regions were also found, which is made up of motor and emotional processing, the visual network, and the cerebellum.
Clear association was found between coffee consumption frequency and reduced connectivity among the group of drinkers. As more coffee was consumed, the less connectivity in these areas of the brain. There was also a higher amount of stress and anxiety found in these individuals.
As for the non coffee drinkers, they were asked to drink a cup and have their brains imaged one more time. The scan found altered activity in the same areas as the coffee drinker scan showed. This means that coffee is what is responsible for this reduced brain connectivity, and not the individual’s problems.
We don’t want to completely stop you from drinking coffee, or make you think that one cup is bad for you. There haven’t been extensive studies or research to show solid proof and evidence of this., but as more research is done, we will have a more clear answer.
There is other research which suggests that drinking up to 3.5 cups per day could help reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, early death, and lowering risks of certain cancers.
Enjoy your coffee in moderation, just like everything else! And be sure to reach out if you’re experiencing any pain.
