Habitual caffeine consumption has often been associated with decreasing age-related cognitive decline.
However, whether habitual caffeine use preferentially spares different cognitive processes is unclear.
Furthermore, whether basing habitual caffeine consumption patterns on current consumption or on a
lifetime measure better represents an individual's use remains unclear. In the present study, we collected
information from women, aged 56e83, about their current caffeine consumption patterns and history of
use, including age they began consuming caffeine. Regression models assessed the relationship between
caffeine consumption and performance on batteries designed to probe speed of processing, inhibition,
memory, and executive function. While we found no direct associations between caffeine exposure and
cognitive performance, we found that caffeine consumption and participant BMI interacted for inhibitory
function and speed of processing performance. We discuss possible protective effects of long term
caffeine use as well as the possibility of dose dependent effects.