Moderate coffee consumption may help slow biological ageing in people living with severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, a new study has revealed.
The research, published in BMJ Mental Health, found that individuals with severe mental illness who drank up to four cups of coffee daily had longer telomeres — a key marker used to measure biological ageing — compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that naturally shorten as people age. Shorter telomeres have been linked to chronic stress, age-related diseases and mental health conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which are often associated with reduced life expectancy.
The study, conducted by researchers at King’s College London, analysed data from 436 adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder with psychosis.
Participants provided information on their daily coffee intake, while researchers assessed their telomere length and accounted for factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, medication use and tobacco smoking.
Findings showed an “inverted J-shaped” relationship between coffee intake and cellular ageing.
Coffee consumption within the recommended limit of up to four cups per day was linked to longer telomeres, while higher intake did not show additional benefits.
Researchers suggested that coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help protect cells from ageing-related damage, although they noted that the study did not directly measure inflammation or antioxidant levels.
They also cautioned that excessive coffee consumption could have negative health effects, including poor sleep quality, stressing that moderation remains important.
While the findings point to a possible protective role of coffee in biological ageing among people with severe mental illness, the researchers said further long-term studies are required to establish whether the relationship is causal.
