A popular drink that slows down aging has been named

Coffee has long been linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and a number of cancers. Observational studies have documented this association for decades, yet the exact molecular mechanism remained a mystery. A new study by scientists from Texas A&M University offers one possible answer. The work was published in the journal Nutrients.

The team of Professor Stephen Safe showed that coffee compounds activate the nuclear receptor NR4A1. This protein responds to stress and tissue damage: it reduces inflammation and triggers repair mechanisms. If NR4A1 is blocked, damage intensifies and healing slows down.

The most active compounds turned out to be not caffeine, but polyhydroxyl and polyphenolic compounds — primarily caffeic acid, which is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Caffeine also binds to the receptor but hardly changes its activity in cell models. This is precisely what explains why large epidemiological studies find no difference in benefits between regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee: the protective effect is provided by other components of the beverage.

In laboratory experiments, coffee compounds reduced cellular damage and slowed the growth of tumor cells. When NR4A1 was blocked, all these effects disappeared. The authors emphasize that NR4A1 is just one of many pathways through which coffee acts. In parallel, the team is developing synthetic receptor activators, more precise than natural molecules — these could become the basis for treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.