Recent scientific evidence has associated regular, moderate coffee consumption with a number of neuroprotective and cardiovascular health benefits. An overview of this research and key findings were presented during a panel discussion held at the Global Coffee Forum, part of Expo Milano 2015, and coinciding with the first International Coffee Day on 1 October.
Elke Gerhard-Rieben, Chair, Communications Committee, the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC) said: “Ageing is one of the most significant social and economic challenges of the 21st century for European societies. By 2025 more than 20% of Europeans will be 65 or over, with a particularly rapid increase in numbers of over-80s5.
We were delighted to participate in the Global Coffee Forum to help frame the conversation about coffee and ageing and highlight the potential health benefits of coffee in relation to cognitive decline, diabetes and cardiovascular health.”
The panel discussion titled “Coffee and Healthy Ageing” took place on Wednesday 30 September 2015 and brought together leading scientists from across Europe to discuss the latest clinical research and insights on coffee consumption in relation to healthy ageing. Chaired by Alok Jha, author, broadcaster and science correspondent at ITV News, the ISIC panel featured two expert speakers:
Dr Karen Ritchie, French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, France, who focused on the latest scientific evidence supporting the neuroprotective effects of regular, moderate caffeine consumption and the evidence it may slow down physiological, age-related cognitive decline.
Dr Carlo La Vecchia, department of clinical Sciences and Community, University of Milan, who discussed the evidence supporting a moderate intake of coffee (3-5 cups per day) may provide protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk, and the links to type 2 diabetes risk reduction.
