Neurocognitive and Neurological Effects of Coffee and Caffeine: A Narrative Review.

Coffee, a popular beverage, is surprisingly complex and increasingly studied for its potential health benefits. In particular, coffee contains caffeine, which may play a role in alertness, cognition, and memory. Coffee also contains an abundance of polyphenols and other compounds, which may confer specific health benefits. It is well known that coffee drinking can ward off drowsiness and fatigue, but the mechanisms behind this are not clearly understood. The caffeine in coffee can inhibit adenosine, but this mechanism is not well understood. Whether or not coffee has protective effects against neurodegenerative conditions is being actively studied. Coffee may confer significant neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive benefits, which are of particular interest in aging populations and warrant greater study. A challenge in studying coffee's neurocognitive aspects is that there are multiple types of coffee, and "dosing," or how much coffee is consumed over time, can vary widely among studies.