Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's Prevention Does Caffeine Improve Your Memory? By Esther Heerema, MSW Esther Heerema, MSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 03, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in migraine and stroke, and affiliated with Mount Sinai of New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Looking for something to super-size your memory? One theory out there is that caffeine, which has been associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease when consumed in midlife, can also help improve your cognitive functioning now. For the millions out there who love their daily coffee, this is the perfect reason to keep that morning routine. (Not that you need a reason.) Steve Debenport Collection: E+ / Getty Images Research Says According to a study published in 2014 conducted at Johns Hopkins University, caffeine does improve memory. The study involved 160 male and female participants who were shown images to view. Five minutes later they were given a 200mg caffeine pill or a placebo (fake). Twenty-four hours later, the participants who received the pill with the caffeine in it showed an improvement in their memory of those images compared to those who received a placebo pill. According to the researchers, administering the pill after the images were shown demonstrates that the caffeine improved the participants' memory, rather than other possibilities including that the improvement was due to increased concentration or focus. The journal Neuroscience found that when older adults consumed caffeine, they demonstrated improved working memory compared to those without the caffeine. A third study found that bees who consume caffeine are more likely to remember floral scents than bees who consumed sucrose. (Of course, the question with this type of study is whether that translates to humans or not.) One study measured the combination of caffeine and glucose and found that when administered together, the participants' reaction time, verbal memory, and attention (concentration) were improved when compared to those who received only the caffeine or the glucose, as well as to those who received the placebo. Caffeine may also improve our spatial memory. A study compared regular caffeine consumers to those who did not consume caffeine on a frequent basis. The results showed that when both groups consumed caffeine, their map memorizing ability (a measure of their spatial memory) improved. Interestingly, those who were habitual caffeine consumers showed less of a benefit from the caffeine dose as compared to those who infrequently consumed caffeine. Only From Coffee? One study involved women older than age 65 who had cardiovascular disease (and thus a higher risk of cognitive decline related to vascular dementia). The study measured their caffeine intake and performed cognitive assessments at regular intervals over five years. The results found that the women who had higher levels of caffeine intake, specifically from coffee – not from colas or tea – performed better on cognitive tests than those who consumed less caffeine. Energy Drinks What about younger people and caffeine? Some researchers set out to determine if energy drinks, which contain high levels of caffeine, improve cognitive functioning. While they increase wakefulness, participants (ages15-18) who consumed energy drinks did not show any significant difference in their cognitive function when compared to those who drank a placebo. Caffeinated Gum? Want a different way to ingest caffeine besides coffee? According to one research study, caffeinated herbal gum was shown to be effective in improving memory. Does Caffeine Affect the Memory of Extroverts Differently? Extroverted? Another study found that working memory was significantly improved with caffeine consumption, but only saw this benefit in adults who were extroverted. A second study aimed to replicate this finding. The researchers in this study found that serial recall and memory of those who were extroverted and consumed caffeine improved, but also found that caffeine improved the speed of reaction and ability to receive new information. Or Is It a Myth? Other studies cast doubt on the benefits of caffeine for our memories. One such study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, reviewed the research conducted thus far on caffeine and cognition and concluded that caffeine's benefits are limited to moderately increasing our focus, mood, and concentration, rather than our memories. Conclusion and Cautions There is an extensive amount of research on caffeine and its effect on memory and other cognitive processes. The results vary significantly, but there does appear to be general support of the idea that caffeine boosts cognitive functioning. Some research indicates that the source of the caffeine is important, showing a benefit from coffee but not other sources. Finally, a caution, lest you decide that you can consume endless amounts of caffeine based on this short summary of research alone. For some people, there are health risks with even low levels of caffeine, and very high levels have been shown to have the possibility of being detrimental to your health. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! When it comes to Alzheimer's, the MIND diet has shown promise in reducing risk and promoting brain health. Sign up for our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Newsletter and get your free recipe guide today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Human Psychopharmacology. 2010 Jun-Jul;25(4):310-7. Effects of Caffeine and Glucose, Alone and Combined, on Cognitive Performance. Johns Hopkins University. 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Appetite. 2011 Aug;57(1):303-7. Herbal-Caffeinated Chewing Gum, But Not Bubble Gum, Improves Aspects of Memory. Biological Psychology. 2010 Dec;85(3):496-8. Caffeine Enhances Working Memory for Extraverts. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2013 Oct 17;7:694. Caffeine Promotes Global Spatial Processing in Habitual and Non-Habitual Caffeine Consumers.