Coffee consumption affects gut-brain axis and cognitive function

A study conducted by APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork, published in Nature Communications, suggests that coffee influences mood and brain function through the gut-brain axis. Researchers found that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can modify the intestinal microbiota and its metabolites.

Key findings indicate that both types of coffee are associated with reduced stress, depression, and impulsivity. However, the two varieties appear to offer different cognitive benefits: decaffeinated coffee was linked to improved learning and memory, while caffeinated coffee was associated with reduced anxiety and enhanced attention.

Neurobiologist John Cryan noted that coffee is a complex dietary factor that interacts with the microbiota, metabolism, and emotional well-being. The study observed that changes in the fecal metabolome were reversible upon coffee abstinence, and reintroduction triggered acute microbiome changes independent of caffeine content.