Coffee May Promote Healthy Aging in Women, Study Shows

A new 30-year study has found that drinking regular coffee may support healthy aging in women. The research suggests that women who consume moderate amounts of caffeine—especially from coffee—have a better chance of aging without chronic diseases, cognitive decline, or physical limitations.

These findings are especially relevant for healthcare in Pakistan, where both the aging population and chronic disease rates are steadily increasing.

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Study Highlights Link Between Coffee and Long-Term Health

The data comes from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), one of the longest-running health studies in the United States. Researchers followed 47,513 women since 1984, examining their midlife caffeine intake and tracking their health outcomes over three decades.

By 2016, 3,706 women met the criteria for “healthy aging”, meaning they reached age 70 or beyond without major health problems.

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Key findings:

• The median caffeine intake was 315 mg per day
• Over 80% of caffeine came from regular coffee
• For every additional 80 mg/day of caffeine, the odds of healthy aging improved
• Each extra cup of coffee per day was linked to a 5% higher chance of healthy aging

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Why This Matters for Healthcare in Pakistan

As life expectancy in Pakistan rises and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, heart disease, and dementia become more common, these findings offer valuable guidance.

Encouraging moderate coffee consumption in women—especially during midlife—may help reduce the burden of chronic illness later in life. Nutrition-based strategies like this can complement existing public health programs in Pakistan.

For context, see WHO Pakistan: Noncommunicable diseases.

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Coffee Outperforms Other Caffeinated Drinks

The study also compared other sources of caffeine:

• Tea and decaf coffee: No major benefit for healthy aging
• Cola and sugary soft drinks: Linked to worse health outcomes
  • Each cola drink reduced healthy aging odds by 19% to 26%

This is particularly important in Pakistan, where soft drink consumption is increasing—contributing to rising obesity and diabetes rates. Public health campaigns should focus on reducing sugary beverage intake while promoting healthier alternatives.

Learn more: UNICEF Pakistan: Nutrition and Health

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Healthcare Policy Implications for an Aging Population

As Pakistan’s population ages, it’s critical to adopt preventive health strategies. The study supports the idea that simple dietary habits, such as drinking black coffee in moderation, can contribute to:

• Lower risk of chronic illness
• Better physical function
• Improved memory and cognition in older age

Healthcare professionals and nutritionists in Pakistan can use this data to create age-specific health guidelines for women.

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Final Thoughts: Coffee and Healthy Aging in Women

This long-term study offers promising evidence that coffee, when consumed in moderation, may support better health outcomes as women age. For countries like Pakistan, where public health systems face increasing pressure from chronic illnesses, nutrition-focused interventions are more important than ever.

The findings were presented at NUTRITION 2025, the annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition, held from May 31–June 3 in Orlando, USA.