[perrygeo]

The proposed mechanism is polyphenols.

Historically, you'd get your polyphenols from your garden or wild gathering. But we know that industrial crops (even organic grown) have extremely low polyphenol content compared to their wild counterparts. So coffee remains as one of the few strong sources you can buy in a grocery store.

Hypothesis: Polyphenols from other sources would be just as protective as coffee.

[tim333]

It must be hard to differentiate:

Hypothesis 1: Polyphenols

Hypothesis 2: 2-3 coffees a day is a symptom of a normal life

You get that kind of issue coming up a lot in this sort of research. Like people who don't drink at all are probably more likely to drop dead in the next year than moderate drinkers. Not because drink protects but because people critically ill tend not to drink.

[moritzwarhier]

> Coffee and tea contain bioactive ingredients like polyphenols and caffeine

There are also studies that nicotine lowers dementia risk.

Since caffeine and nicotine are both stimulants related to similar receptors, I wouldn't discount this other mechanism.

I'm not saying anything about general healthiness of caffeine though.

[nwah1]

Would be interesting to know whether theacrine or paraxanthine can provide the same neuroprotection without as much downsides.

[srean]

> There are also studies that nicotine lowers dementia risk.

It has been found to be negatively correlated with Parkinson's disease also.

Does it not adversely affect cardiovascular health ? Even if it did, I would prefer keeping my mind and mobility.

[butlike]

That. Is. Fascinating. How'd you hear about the industrial crops having low polyphenol content?

[perrygeo]

An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations’ Health

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10969708/