Take a Coffee Break

Quick Win

Caffeine may help keep your mind sharp, and a coffee break is a great way to connect with a friend.

Try This Today

• Invite a friend. Use your coffee break to catch up with a loved one. “Social engagement helps maintain thinking skills and slows cognitive decline in later life,” according to AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health report “The Brain and Social Connectedness.”
• Choose hot over cold. Turns out that today’s popular cold-brew java, which steeps grounds for hours in cool water, doesn’t pack as many antioxidants as its hot-brewed cousin. Not a fan of coffee? Tea offers similar benefits.
• Keep it screen-free. Don’t let your devices distract you: This is your chance to switch gears and take a moment to chill. Short breaks throughout the day can actually make it easier to focus later.
• Watch the clock. Skip the coffee or have a decaf if you’re only about 6 hours away from bedtime: Otherwise, you might be setting yourself up for late-night tossing and turning.

Why

In a systematic review of 61 studies published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in 2020, researchers concluded that caffeine consumption — especially moderate amounts (one to four cups daily) of coffee or green tea — was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. One theory is that caffeine may help control inflammation in the brain that’s associated with neurodegenerative diseases, according to a review of research published in Mediators of Inflammation in 2017.