The everyday act that could reduce your risk of dementia, according to Harvard study

Reducing your risk of dementia, which is the leading cause of death for Australians, could be as simple as drinking a few cups of tea or coffee every day.

A study from Harvard University has linked the caffeinated drinks to a lower risk of dementia.

The observational study had US health workers report what they ate and drank each day for up to 43 years.

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It found the health staff who drank more caffeinated tea or coffee were about 10 to 20 per cent less likely to have been diagnosed with dementia.

But the sweet spot for reducing dementia risk seemed to be different depending on the drink.

One to two cups of tea a day appeared to reduce the risk of dementia most, while for coffee it was between two and three cups per day.

Drinking more than two cups of tea or three cups of coffee didn't appear to have any additional benefits.

Nor did decaffeinated coffee appear to reduce dementia risk.

Researchers suspect that caffeine may be the key to tea and coffee reducing dementia risk.

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The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimated there were 425,000 Australians living with dementia in 2024.

Factors that increase the risk of dementia include obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, head injuries, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.

The risk of dementia also rises sharply with age and Australia's ageing population could see the number of Aussies living with dementia spike to 1.1 million by 2065.

But early and mid-life prevention measures can decrease the risk of developing dementia in later life.

Common measures to reduce the risk of dementia include physical activity, social engagement and cognitive activity.

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Please note the information in this story is general in nature. Please always consult your GP or health professional for advice that is tailored to your specific health concerns.