November 28, 2025, 12:13 pm | Read time: 6 minutes
It is now believed that moderate coffee consumption has a positive impact on health. It is said to reduce the risk of various diseases and, in some cases, even be associated with a longer lifespan. Coffee beans contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances—coffee consumption could therefore potentially contribute to “younger” appearing cells. A study has now specifically examined this connection in people who already show signs of accelerated biological aging processes at the cellular level due to certain medical findings. FITBOOK delves into the study and its results.
Effect of Coffee Consumption on Aging Processes in Mental Disorders
Telomeres are the protective ends of our chromosomes. They shorten with each cell division and are considered a precise marker for biological aging. Previous research showed that people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or affective disorders like bipolar disorder, have shorter telomeres earlier in life compared to healthy individuals.1 A connection between these mental illnesses and a life expectancy that is sometimes 10 to 20 years shorter due to their cellular predisposition has also been found.2,3
The influence of coffee consumption on telomere length has been controversially discussed in science for some time, such as in connection with early cancer detection.4 Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is speculation that moderate coffee consumption could prevent biological aging processes and thus have a protective effect on telomeres. The research team responsible for the study tested this hypothesis on individuals with the described mental disorders.
Details on Data Collection
The study involved 436 adults diagnosed with mental disorders. The participants were between 18 and 65 years old, and the Norwegian researchers recruited them from psychiatric clinics in Oslo. Among the participants, 259 had disorders from the schizophrenia spectrum, and 177 suffered from affective disorders, such as bipolar disorders or psychotic depression.
Researchers gathered information on the participants’ coffee consumption through self-reports. The men and women were asked to indicate how many cups of coffee they drink daily.
They had the following options:
- 0 cups
- 1 to 2 cups
- 3 to 4 cups
- 5 or more
The FDA’s recommendation is 400 milligrams of coffee per day, which is equivalent to about three to four cups per day.5
Telomeres of Leukocytes in Focus
The researchers focused on the length of the telomeres of white blood cells, as this is considered a marker for the body’s overall cellular aging. It is confirmed that changes in telomeres in leukocytes correlate with aging processes in other tissues. For their measurements, the scientists used a molecular biological method called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). With this method, they were able to determine a T/S ratio (telomere-to-single-gene ratio), which serves as a measure of relative telomere length. Additionally, they calculated how many years of biological aging correspond to the observed telomere differences. They found that telomeres shrink by an average of 70 base pairs per year. To understand: A base pair is a tiny building block of DNA. The 70 base pairs thus represent 70 small “rungs” of the DNA ladder that are lost at the telomeres each year.
Statistical Evaluation
The researchers used ANCOVA models to analyze the differences between groups with varying coffee consumption. ANCOVA models are analyses of covariance that allow the comparison of the means of a dependent variable across different groups while controlling for influencing factors. They considered various influencing factors: the age and gender of the participants, the consumption of indulgence items, and the daily dose of psychotropic drugs. Additionally, they examined whether the relationship between coffee consumption and telomere length varied depending on the diagnosis group or gender.
3 to 4 Cups of Coffee = Longer Telomeres
The results showed an inverted “J-shaped relationship” between coffee consumption and telomere length, the authors write. The examined chromosome ends were longest in participants who drank three to four cups of coffee per day. When this amount was exceeded, telomere length decreased again. Non-coffee drinkers had the shortest telomeres.
The authors particularly highlight that the telomeres of patients who stayed within the recommended amount of up to four cups of coffee per day corresponded to a reduced biological aging (biological rejuvenation) of about five years, compared to those of non-coffee drinkers. This positive effect was observed regardless of gender and specific diagnosis: It was seen in both women and men with schizophrenia or affective disorders.
Significance of the Study
The study authors conclude from the results that moderate coffee consumption of up to four cups daily is advisable for people with mental illnesses. Very high consumption (more than five cups) does not seem to be beneficial. If the observations are confirmed in future studies, such a recommendation could become part of care and health strategies. Apparently, coffee in controlled amounts could be associated with longer telomeres and thus with less biological aging. The researchers explain that the results also contribute to a better understanding of how lifestyle factors like diet and the consumption of caffeinated beverages can influence biological aging processes in the context of mental illnesses.
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Limitations
Several limitations of the study should be noted. Among other things, the recording of coffee consumption was based on self-reports—these are generally prone to distortions. Additionally, only the number of cups consumed daily was recorded, while important details (such as preparation method, cup volume, coffee strength, or the time of day of consumption) were not considered. Information on the intake of other caffeine-rich beverages was also not available.
Further limitations include the lack of measurements of other biochemical influencing factors. For example, there were no data on antioxidant or anti-inflammatory markers. Information on the intake of non-psychiatric medications (such as beta-blockers, statins, and metformin), which could also affect telomeres, was missing. A healthy comparison group was also absent, which limits the significance of the results for people with mental illnesses.
Important Note
The results should not be interpreted as a recommendation to drink coffee to extend one’s life or halt the biological aging of cells. Coffee consumption affects individuals differently. There are also groups for whom (excessive) coffee consumption can have negative health effects, such as people with heart problems, high blood pressure, or certain gastrointestinal issues, as well as pregnant women. The study merely shows a statistical correlation between moderate coffee consumption and longer telomeres, without proving a direct causal effect.