EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS 1

Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions

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Effect of Caffeine on Cognitive Functions

Similar to other types of drugs, caffeine, a common type of stimulant found in tea,

coffee, cocoa etc., when consumed at a large quantity can lead to an adverse effect on the

health of a person. Moderate caffeine intake has shown signs of improvement in cognitive

functions. However, an excessive amount of caffeine dosage can lead to serious

complications in mental health.

Studies have shown a fair amount of caffeine consumption may improve the effect on

cognitive performance. Some performances are comprised of alertness, awareness, and

reaction time. Enhancing these cognitive traits can benefit in particular tasks executed by the

user. Moreover, the effect of caffeine is parallel to the habitual consumption of the user

(Huertes et al., 2019). Certain professions include the people who work in the transportation

industry, pilots and night-shift workers are required to take caffeine due to the nature of the

work. In return, the person working in the aforementioned type of profession develops a

pattern of ingesting caffeine. Once caffeine is taken regularly, a consumer who withdraws in

caffeine has shown signs of a low-performance level. Thus, it is required for habitual users to

ingest caffeine on a daily basis in order to take up the whole effect of caffeine. Despite the

fact, caffeine as an enhancer is not only an effective catalyst in boosting some functions of

the brain, but it also promotes excellent results when it comes to performing physical

activities. In the context of physical training, caffeine can be significant when used before the

workout. Doses approximately 40 to 300 mg of caffeine have shown minimum improvement

in the main functions of cognition in relation to alertness and attention. Relatively, 200 to 500

mg 1 hour before working out can heighten the physical conditioning of the body. In general,

caffeine must be dose-dependent for it to take specific effects on the user.

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As mentioned earlier, it is a matter of how the consumer’s habit is developed towards

caffeine consumption revolving around the number of milligrams ingested. The average daily

intake of caffeine is around 2.5 mg/kg. Consuming higher than the suggested amount every

day can be detrimental to health. Adolescents or young adults are much prone to drinking

caffeinated drinks due to the accessibility of the beverages. Although, it may still differ on

personal preferences, environmental factors, and personal factors. According to Jin (2016),

several symptoms and mental illnesses are correlated in exacerbating the severity of the

presented mental illness on the consumer. These mental illnesses and symptoms include

depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress. Furthermore, high doses of caffeine have shown the

likelihood of an increase in depression and insomnia due to the chemicals involved in

caffeine. Nonetheless, caffeine may vary depending on the type of drink. Energy drinks have

a higher caffeine content than other drinks. The number of caffeine ranges from 30 to 207 mg

per bottle. Assume the user consumes more than 2 to 3 cans frequently. The cause would be

significantly dangerous to the individual’s system in particular the central nervous system.

Everything considered, building a habit of drinking several cans of energy drinks gives

diminish cognitive functions, instead of enhancing the specific cognitive ability of a person.

To sum up, it is healthy to consume small to moderate amount of caffeine. Exceeding

the advised amount on a daily basis can lead to negative effects on the mental well-being of a

person. Nevertheless, it still ranges from how the user forms the pattern of drinking

caffeinated drinks. However, it is beyond doubt caffeine is an enhancer, at worst when used

without caution in mind, can cause some serious issues on the health.
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References

Huertas, F., Blasco, E., Moratal, C. & Lupianez, J. (2019). Caffeine Intake Modulates the

Functioning of the Attentional Networks Depending on Consumption Habits and

Acute Exercise Demands. Scientific Reports, 9 (10043).

Jin, M. J. et al. (2016). The Relationship of Caffeine Intake with Depression, Anxiety, Stress,

and Sleep in Korean Adolescents. KJFM.