People who drink tea or coffee daily may face a lower risk of dementia, researchers say.
A US study tracked more than 130,000 people for up to 43 years.
Those drinking two to three coffees or one to two teas daily showed a 15–20% lower dementia risk.
Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed slightly less cognitive decline than non-drinkers.
Decaffeinated coffee showed no such link.
The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Lead author Yu Zhang said the findings cannot prove cause and effect.
Caffeine drinkers may differ in other ways that protect brain health.
Coffee and tea contain caffeine and polyphenols that may reduce inflammation and improve blood flow.
Caffeine also links to lower diabetes risk, a known dementia factor.
Experts stress tea and coffee are not protective cures.
A healthy lifestyle remains the strongest defence against cognitive decline.
