King's College London study links caffeine to changes in children's brains

A study conducted by researchers at King's College London has found that high caffeine consumption in children aged 9 to 11 is linked to physical changes in the brain and increased psychological risks.

Using MRI scans on data from 9,632 children, researchers observed that higher caffeine intake—even as little as one caffeinated drink per week—is associated with a reduced cortical surface area across 22 different regions of the brain. The cortical surface plays a vital role in cognitive functions, attention, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

The study also identified that caffeine consumption leads to shorter sleep durations, which further contributes to the reduction in cortical surface area. These combined factors—altered brain structure and lack of sleep—partially explain an increased likelihood of mental health and behavioral issues, such as attention difficulties and mood disorders, appearing in children several months after the consumption patterns were noted.