New Dutch Study Links Coffee Consumption to Lower Risk of Frailty in Older Adults
Can your daily cup of coffee help you age better? A new study from the Netherlands suggests that drinking more than four cups a day may significantly reduce the risk of physical frailty in later life. Here’s what the researchers discovered.
A new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2025 has uncovered a compelling link between regular coffee consumption and a reduced risk of frailty among older adults. Conducted as part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), the research followed more than 1,100 Dutch individuals aged 55 and older, analyzing their coffee consumption patterns and physical health indicators over time.
The study found that people who habitually consumed more than four cups of coffee per day — equivalent to at least 500 to 750 ml — were significantly less likely to develop frailty compared to those who drank only one to two cups daily. In fact, drinking 4–6 cups a day was associated with a 64% lower chance of frailty, while drinking more than six cups correlated with a 63% reduction.
Frailty is a clinical condition characterized by a decline in multiple physiological systems, often leading to reduced mobility, higher risk of falls, dependence on care, and increased mortality. It is typically measured using the “Fried frailty phenotype,” which includes five components: unintentional weight loss, low grip strength, exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low physical activity.
The researchers observed that those who drank more coffee had significantly better outcomes in terms of muscle strength and weight maintenance — two core components of frailty. The protective effect of coffee was evident not only in the short term but also over a 7-year follow-up period, during which those who consumed between two and four cups per day had a 59% lower risk of developing frailty.
What makes this study especially noteworthy is that it examined both current coffee habits and retrospective reports of midlife coffee consumption (ages 40–65). While the most significant effects were observed with current consumption, individuals who reported drinking coffee regularly during midlife also showed a trend toward lower frailty rates in older age.
Interestingly, the type of coffee — caffeinated or decaffeinated — also played a role. The data showed that high consumption of decaf coffee was associated with a lower incidence of frailty or pre-frailty over three years, suggesting that caffeine may not be the only beneficial compound in coffee. The researchers suggest that other bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and antioxidants, may contribute to this protective effect by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, two factors known to accelerate physical decline with age.
However, the study did not find a strong association between coffee intake and the earlier stage of frailty known as “pre-frailty,” nor did it show consistent results for all subgroups. For example, the effects varied slightly between men and women and among those drinking different types of coffee, though the overall trends were clear.
Lead researcher Mette van der Linden noted that while the results are promising, more research is needed to confirm the findings and to understand the underlying biological mechanisms. “Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world,” she said. “If our findings are confirmed, it could become part of the conversation around healthy aging strategies.”
The LASA project is one of Europe’s most respected long-term aging studies, with data going back to 1992. Its findings have previously shaped policy discussions around aging and public health in the Netherlands and beyond.
Conclusion:
This latest research adds to the growing body of evidence that coffee may offer more than just a mental boost or morning ritual — it could play a role in physical resilience as we age. While more studies are needed to establish a causal relationship, the idea that coffee might help preserve strength and mobility later in life is one more reason to savor that cup.
