Caffeine has been associated with cognitive enhancement and neuroprotection, with evidence suggesting a link between regular consumption and reduced dementia risk. Despite increasing caffeine consumption in Ireland, no prior studies have quantified this trend or explored its potential cognitive implications. Our research aims to address this gap by investigating caffeine consumption habits among adults in Ireland and examining their association with cognitive function, as assessed by the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between caffeine intake and CFQ scores in the Irish population while also considering confounding factors to confirm if this well-documented relationship exists due to caffeine alone or variables that may influence the interaction of caffeine in the human body. We’re currently collecting data, and so far, 968 adults living in Ireland have taken part, with a total of 586 participants completing the survey fully. The preliminary results show that coffee was the most popular caffeinated beverage consumed amongst Irish adults, and the mean caffeine intake was 361.2mg (SD=312.02). and the mean CFQ score was 40.5 (SD=16.9). There was a very weak statistically significant positive correlation between caffeine intake and CFQ scores (N=600, r=0.09, p=0.03). Data collection is ongoing, and when it is completed, I will perform the final data analysis to examine the link between caffeine intake and the cognitive performance of the participants. Although there is clinical evidence suggesting that caffeine consumption is protective against dementia and cognitive decline, further clinical studies are required to support this link, as many previous studies failed to look at the confounding variables that seem to be linked with dementia risk and years spent with cognitive impairment. The proposed research will follow recommended study designs to address these gaps, ideally involving a large-scale epidemiological study that adjusts for various confounding factors.
