Does Caffeine at 65 Keep You Alive?

tidbits that tantalize

Ah - What A

Great Morning...

Man, you can't wait. Tuesday's the big day and it can't come fast enough. Martha will just have to grin and bear it too which, of course, makes it all the more sweet. After all, though you love her with all your heart, it was Martha that tore your life apart a dozen years ago. It was a wintry Saturday afternoon and she'd been to the A&P. You helped her carry in the bags and started to unpack the groceries when something odd caught your eye. Unbelieving, you asked Martha what "it" was and, with a single word, she changed your life forever...

"Decaf!"

It's been a brutal twelve years, but Tuesday you turn 65 - and, you plan on being the first in line at the Division of Caffeine Consumption (DCC). Yes, sir. With your DCC license in hand you plan on spending the entire day drinking lattes, cappuccinos and espresso. Of course, it's not that you even like all those fancy-schmancy bistro buys - you're strictly in it for the caffeine.

Hmm... Might we expect the issuance of DCC licenses in the future? And, if so, is 65 really the most appropriate age to issue a license allowing additional caffeine consumption? Well, recent research seems to indicate it may be true - not the license part, but the caffeine part.

Investigators at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York report a surprising health benefit related to caffeine consumption. If, that is, you are 65 years of age or older. They report a direct correlation between caffeine consumption and a decreased risk of death due to heart disease.

People tend to experience a drop in blood pressure following meals, a phenomenon that becomes more pronounced with age. Caffeine, apparently, takes this as a personal insult. When those over the age of 65 drink caffeinated coffee following meals it counteracts the typical drop in blood pressure. Quite the perk.

The researchers found the effect to be dose-specific, with a higher caffeine intake resulting in a lower heart disease risk and visa versa. Study participants who drank four or more servings each day had a 53% lower risk of dying from heart disease - those drinking between two and four servings each day had a 32% lower risk.

The bad news? The beneficial effect was not seen in those younger than 65.

But, if you're still just a kid, take heart. Mark your calendar and set your alarms. The Division of Caffeine Consumption knows how critical the DCC license is - doors open each weekday at 6 a.m.

To read more about the study and the beneficial effects of caffeine, see this from Reuter's Health.