Sip Smart: Unsweetened Coffee and Its Surprising Brain Boost
Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
If your daily brew leans unsweetened, your brain might just thank you.
Recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that unsweetened caffeinated coffee could be your secret weapon against Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and Parkinson’s disease.
Before you toss in that sugar packet, let’s unpack why your bittersweet cup might be the key to better brain health.
Coffee and Neuroprotection: What’s Brewing?
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are among the most common neurodegenerative disorders, impacting over 63 million people globally.
These conditions slowly rob individuals of their independence, affecting memory, behavior, movement, and mood. While no cure exists, prevention remains the holy grail. That’s where unsweetened coffee enters the picture.
Researchers, led by Tingjing Zhang, combed through the UK Biobank, analyzing data from over 204,000 participants aged 40–69.
What they found was as robust as your favorite dark roast: participants who sipped unsweetened coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or related dementias. They were also 43% less likely to die from these conditions compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Sweetened or artificially sweetened coffee? Not so much. It turns out the health perks take their coffee black (or, at least, unsweetened).
Why Is Unsweetened Coffee the Hero?
The study didn’t just look at what was in the cup—it analyzed how people took their coffee. Participants were divided into four groups:
Non-coffee drinkers
Unsweetened coffee drinkers
Sugar-sweetened coffee drinkers
Artificially sweetened coffee drinkers
More than half (54%) of participants enjoyed their coffee without sugar, while about 24% abstained entirely. The remaining opted for either sugar-sweetened (16%) or artificially sweetened (7%) coffee. Among these groups, only the unsweetened drinkers reaped significant neuroprotective benefits. The researchers also noted that decaffeinated coffee shared similar benefits—provided it was unsweetened.
The Science Behind the Sip
Coffee is a complex brew of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and antioxidants, which may help combat brain cell damage.
However, sugar and artificial sweeteners could interfere with these benefits. Sweeteners, particularly in high doses, are linked to inflammation and other metabolic disruptions, potentially undoing coffee’s natural perks.
The findings suggest it’s not just the caffeine but the synergy of compounds in coffee, minus the sweeteners, that makes the difference.
A Caffeinated Caution
While these findings are promising, it’s worth noting the study's design doesn’t establish causation.
Does coffee lower disease risk, or do early symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases influence coffee habits?
Could there even be a third factor, such as lifestyle or genetics, driving the connection? For now, we can sip with cautious optimism.
Your Takeaway: Keep It Simple, Skip the Sweeteners
The study authors emphasize one key message: skip the sugar. Unsweetened coffee is where the magic happens. Whether you prefer your coffee caffeinated or decaf, keeping it simple might be your best bet for protecting your brain.
So, the next time you’re tempted to add a sugary splash, remember: bitter might be better for your brain.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
REFERENCES:
Zhang, T., Song, J., Shen, Z., Yin, K., Yang, F., Yang, H., Ma, Z., Chen, L., Lu, Y., & Xia, Y. (2025). Associations between different coffee types, neurodegenerative diseases, and related mortality: Findings from a large prospective cohort study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.