If you pair your morning EPPP study session with a cup of coffee, you could be protecting your brain from future harm depending on how much you consume.
Avid coffee and tea drinkers may be familiar with the immediate effects of caffeine such as increased focus and retention, increased alertness, and enhanced mood. Though caffeine should in no way be used as a tool to solve problems that can be fixed by sufficient amounts of sleep and exercise, when used appropriately, caffeine’s short term effects can have a positive impact on your EPPP studies. Despite other opinion on the benefits of decreased coffee consumption altogether, the coffee habit you may have developed could potentially be beneficial for your cognitive function long term.
According to Medical News Today, in Could coffee drinking habits influence cognitive function?, some coffee drinkers could be at lower risk for developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is defined as
“the decline in cognitive abilities, such as memory and thinking skills. It is estimated that approximately 10-20% of individuals in the US aged 65 or older may have MCI, and the condition is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia.”
Results of the study showed that consistent coffee drinkers, who regularly drank a moderate amount of coffee (which the study defines as one or two cups daily), had a lower risk of MCI as opposed to non-coffee drinkers.
Participants in the study who increased their consumption over time were “around 1.5 times more likely to develop MCI than those whose coffee consumption remained stable – no more or less than one cup of coffee each day.” Therefore we can infer that maintaining a consistent consumption of caffeine puts you at less risk for developing MCI than if you were to increase consumption.
For those whose coffee consumption is a bit more than moderate, the study found
“no significant link […] between coffee consumption and MCI incidence among participants who consistently drank larger amounts of coffee – defined as more than two cups daily – compared with participants who never or rarely drank the beverage”
The study, in conclusion, found that “moderate and regular coffee consumption may have neuroprotective effects […] against MCI.”
For you and your EPPP studies, the research explored in Medical News Today can be encouraging as you begin brewing your morning cup for your early bird study session.
Further Reading:
- Emotional Intelligence and Your EPPP Score
- Learning from the Habits of Bad Students
- Why You Should Sleep Now and Study for the EPPP Later
- Exercise and Passing the EPPP: Why you Should Include Exercise in your EPPP Study Schedule