THE humble cup of coffee might help us live longer.
Stanford University scientists have discovered a link between advancing age, systemic inflammation, cardiovascular disease and coffee consumption.
The study found an inflammatory mechanism can trigger the inflammation process linked to ageing and its related chronic conditions.
It then found evidence that caffeine has its own drivers that may counter this action.
"What we've shown is a correlation between caffeine consumption and longevity," said Dr Mark Davis, one of the study's senior authors.
"That something many people drink - and actually like to drink - might have a direct benefit came as a surprise to us."
While previous studies have documented the association between caffeine intake and longevity, this study has found a possible reason why.
The study was published in Nature Medicine.
