Daily coffee habits may affect brain plasticity and learning

[mahogany]

This thread is going to be similar to threads discussing a paper that points out something negative about alcohol consumption. It’s easy to get defensive (sometimes irrationally so) about our drug habits which may have negative long-term effects.

If I’m being objective (as a “chronic” caffeine consumer) it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if daily consumption of more than 100mg of caffeine had long-term negative effects for many people. Even ignoring possible brain changes proposed in this article, the effects on mood, stress, sleep, etc. are apparent in my personal observations.

Now if only I could figure out how to consume coffee in moderation…

[balfirevic]

> This thread is going to be similar to threads discussing a paper that points out something negative about alcohol consumption

Heh, when you prefaced with this I thought you were going to say that it will be full of people talking about how it was always obvious that it's bad, how they can't fathom why we as a society accept it, how they would never mess with their brain by using such substances... :-)

[theGnuMe]

Switch to half decaf half caff and go from there. Add in green tea as a replacement for one or more. Good luck!

[FirmwareBurner]

>Researchers explore how chronic caffeine consumption potentially impacts brain plasticity

Key words: "chronic caffeine consumption" and "potentially".

Main takeaway: Avoid chronic caffeine consumption to retain proper brain functions. So basically common sense, that excessive use of a psychostimulant will be bad for you.

[fbhabbed]

Basically everyone who consumes caffeine is a chronic user. Everyone I know of drinks it daily, and skipping one day is very unpleasant until your brain gets used to lack of it again (a couple miserable days).

[hagbarth]

Reading the actual article this was based on, the main takeaway is that they now have a hypothesis they want to test.

[malf]

> common sense

75% of people surveyed drink coffee every day?

[Mistletoe]

Well sometimes studies show coffee is good for your brain so I’m relieved to find this outcome because I don’t drink coffee and try to avoid caffeine daily.

[Quinzel]

Keyword: “potentially” - so basically common sense that the researchers have not yet confirmed anything as fact??…

It seems like you’re jumping to conclusions.

[hagbarth]

I have a hard time with news outlets taking articles, in which the authors highlight the need for further research, and suggest the findings as fact. I know it says “may”, but that’s not how people read it.

[archo]

Scientist: Scientific findings are meaningless when taken out of context…

Media: Scientist claims scientific findings are meaningless!

[JamesMcMinn]

Not a single mention of sleep, which one would think would have a strong relationship with both coffee habits and learning and memory.

[Shaanie]

The study isn't (directly) studying sleep so that's hardly a surprise. It's perfectly possible that it's actually the disturbed sleep causing the response, and not the caffeine itself (at least from my brief skim of the paper).

Personally I place little to zero value on these "we asked people to estimate something and then found a correlation" studies, there are too many potentially confounding variables to account for. Perhaps the non-caffeine drinkers have different types of occupations, social class, health consciousness etc.

[2devnull]

Yes, it’s very likely people with sleep trouble (caused by apnea usually) are more likely to consume greater quantities of caffeine to help fight daytime sleepiness caused by the apnea.

[seltzered_]

Original research paper: Chronic caffeine consumption curbs rTMS-induced plasticity https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1137...

[_ink_]

Will the plasticity return when one stops consuming coffein or is it gone for good?

[scotty79]

I suppose it returns when you stop coffeine, notice how tired you were and sleep properly for a week or so. Then you should be back to normal.

[mandmandam]

Since I had to click through to see what's meant by "chronic" (ugh), they mean 200mg per day. That works out to a little over three espressos / instant coffees, or nearly seven sodas.

[redkabbage]

One 8oz cup of Starbucks coffee (the smallest size) or two shots of espresso has roughly 150mg of caffeine, according to their posted metrics. Most customers likely consume multiple times that.

[tpoacher]

Alternatively: changes in brain plasticity and learning may affect daily coffee habits.

Yeah not so exciting this way round is it.

[MrDresden]

"However, it’s crucial to approach these findings with caution. The research in this field is still in its early stages, and the studies have limitations, including small sample sizes and the complexity of accurately measuring and controlling caffeine consumption."

My addiction will continue, at least for now.

[ghusto]

Here you go, 15 paragraphs in is the information you're looking for:

> found that MEP facilitation, an indicator of increased brain plasticity, is more pronounced in non-caffeine users compared to their caffeine-consuming counterparts

[totallywrong]

I've by now eliminated all questionable habits in my life. My morning coffee is the one I'm willing to accept potentital downsides to maintain.

[rf15]

As someone who doesn't take any form of caffeine: Considering how widespread it is, it's probably just another of those trade-off scenarios for your body.

[washadjeffmad]

I switched from bancha all day to a single 6oz cup of coffee in the morning.

When we want more, we drink decaf.

[egberts1]

So a paper put out by a lower-class (bachelor in "pseudoscience") at an obscure college on a dubious psychology website: NEXT!