Attention ladies: A new study says caffeine is good for your brain!

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Good news for coffee lovers! A recent study shows the benefits of caffeine, specifically for reducing the risk of dementia among older women.

Read more: The health benefits of coffee and wine

Above-average caffeine consumption linked to 38% decreased risk of dementia

The study, published in The Journals of Gerontology, found that women aged 65 and older who consumed more than the average amount of caffeine per day (about 261 milligrams), saw a 38% decrease in the risk of dementia.

Lead study author Ira Driscoll, Ph.D. told Yahoo Beauty, ‘We were not really surprised by our findings since the epidemiological evidence has been mounting in the same direction as our findings.’ Driscoll is a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Over 10 years, the study monitored 6,467 postmenopausal women who reported consuming caffeine regularly. During the time they were studied, 388 of the women received a diagnosis of probable dementia.

Study authors said that the findings were consistent with existing studies linking caffeine intake and lowered risk of age-related cognitive impairment. Michael A. Yassa, Ph.D., an associate professor in the department of neurobiology and behavior and director of the Yassa Translational Neurobiology Lab at the University of California, Irvine, said, ‘I think the findings are intriguing and certainly in line with past literature on the positive effects of caffeine on longevity.’

But, that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t still be careful about the amount of caffeine they consume, as too much caffeine can have negative side effects.

Read more: Drinking coffee might just save your life

How much caffeine is too much?

According to the Mayo Clinic, people in general can safely consume about 400 MG of caffeine per day, or roughly two to two and a half cups. But, those who consume 4 to 6 cups per day may experience symptoms such as insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach upset, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. Knowing this, it’s important not to consume too much!

The amount of caffeine in popular beverages

To keep caffeine consumption in check, it’s important to know how much you’re actually drinking! To help you determine how much you’re drinking, below is a list of some popular caffeinated beverages and how much caffeine they contain. More can be found on this page from the University of Utah.

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  • 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee: 80-135 MG
  • 8-ounce glass iced tea: 47 MG
  • One small cup of Starbucks coffee: 260 MG
  • 12-ounce Coke: 34 MG
  • 12-ounce Pepsi: 37.5 MG
  • One bottle of 5 hour energy: 215 MG
  • One can of Red Bull: 80 MG

Read more: How you can make over $100K by skipping your morning coffee

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