Caffeine sensitivity grows as people age

In one study, coffee drinkers between 65 and 70 took 33% longer to metabolize caffeine than did younger participants.

stock.adobe.com

Dear Doctors: I think that, as I get older, I may be developing a sensitivity to caffeine. I have always loved my cup of coffee in the morning, but now I find that it makes me a bit racy. I would love to understand why.

Dear Reader: Whether it’s coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages, we humans love the lift caffeine gives. Recent data estimate that 85% of adults in the United States consume caffeine in some form each day.

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. Due to its physiological effects and its potential for abuse, it’s considered a drug. Caffeine withdrawal — which can cause headache, anxiety, insomnia and depression — is a recognized disorder. Yet research links coffee and tea to a range of physical and cognitive benefits.

It is indeed possible to develop caffeine sensitivity. This becomes more common as we age. Research shows that older adults clear caffeine from the body more slowly than younger people. In one study, coffee drinkers between 65 and 70 took 33% longer to metabolize caffeine than did younger participants. That means the same amount of coffee that someone has been drinking would have an amplified effect. This can cause anxiety, irritability, jumpiness, difficulty with sleep, sleeplessness and the “racy” feeling you describe.

Caffeine is rapidly and completely absorbed by the body. Within 45 minutes of drinking a cup of coffee, 99% of the caffeine in it has been absorbed. In the bloodstream, it can reach peak levels within 15 minutes of consumption.

After a few hours, certain enzymes in the liver begin to break down the caffeine. This occurs gradually. In a healthy young adult, it takes about six hours for the liver to cut the amount of circulating caffeine in half. As people age, the enzymes involved in caffeine metabolism grow less efficient. Other factors, such as pregnancy, certain medications and being a smoker also can slow the rate at which caffeine is metabolized.

An eight-ounce cup of coffee delivers 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine. Research shows that, for older adults, amounts in the range of 50 to 100 mg are well-tolerated. To manage caffeine sensitivity, limit yourself to one cup a day. If multiple cups are your routine, consider switching to a half-caf blend.

Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko are internists at UCLA Health.

Source:: Chicago Sun Times

(Visited 5 times, 1 visits today)

USA News Posts - Related Posts:

‘Unretirement’ is on the rise as older workers return to work Older people are heading back into the workplace (Picture: Getty Images)‘Unretirement’ is on the rise as older workers return to work, but how can we all plan ahead for our retirement? And how can employers help older employees? The current UK retirement age in the UK is 66, although this will skyrocket with state pension age set to reach 67 by 2028 – and even further beyond, according to Age UK. It’s scary to think that a lot of us will…
Dear Abby: I was planning to move in with her until I got this surprise news DEAR ABBY: Two years ago, at a national conference, I bumped into a woman I had dated decades ago. We started dating again, even though she lives in Phoenix and I live in the Midwest. The geographical distance between us is challenging, but we made it work through phone calls and traveling to see each other at least once a month. It was working so well that we began discussing my relocating to Arizona so we could move in together.…
No child refugee should have to go through bogus age assessments Age is calculated differently around the world and many children have no documentation (Picture: EPA)Last week, news came out that two of the asylum seekers to be deported from the UK to Rwanda are claiming to be 16. They’re children, and the British Government plans to send them 4,500 miles away from safety on the basis that they don’t look their age. This is just the latest instalment in a long pattern of the UK Home Office criminalising child refugees…
Vaccine consent age raised from 12 to 15 in California legislation SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Thursday amended a bill that would have let preteens be vaccinated against a range of health conditions without their parents’ consent, instead raising the proposed minimum age to 15 — which would still be among the youngest in the U.S. Currently, minors age 12 to 17 in California cannot be vaccinated without permission from their parents or guardians, except for vaccinations to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. California state law already allows people 12…
FIFA reveal 16 host cities in USA, Mexico and Canada for 2026 World Cup The SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California is one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)FIFA have announced the host cities and venues for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the first time ever, 48 teams will compete for the FIFA World Cup Trophy as the tournament expands from the 32-team format which will be used for the last time in Qatar later this year. There are 11 host cities in the…
Photoshop might soon be available for free Adobe is testing out a free, web-based version of Photoshop (Credits: Anadolu Agency)Photoshop is one of the best photo-editing tools around, but there’s no getting away from the fact it’s an expensive bit of software. But that could be about to change. Reports are swirling that Adobe is planning to release a free web-based version of the iconic software in the near future. In fact, there’s already a web-based Photoshop offering but it’s only available to those paying for Adobe’s…
Vaccines for children could be delayed after Florida only state not to preorder, doctors say Experts said the COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 5 might not be available in Florida until next week. Some states, including Georgia, started allowing doctors to place orders for COVID-19 vaccines for young children weeks ago. Florida, however, started allowing doctors to place their orders on Friday. Some doctors are worried the limited timeframe could mean delays in receiving the shots locally. Small doses of Moderna and Pzifer COVID-19 vaccines were approved for kids as young as…
Older Folks Who Can’t Stand on One Leg for 10 Seconds Have Double the Risk of Death, Study Finds Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / GettyIf you’re 50 or older, try standing on one leg and holding it for 10 seconds. If you can do it, congrats! You’re likely pretty healthy (or at least have been keeping up with your Wii Sports balance board over a decade later). If you can’t, though, we have bad news: Your risk of death is doubled that of those who can. That’s the conclusion put forth in a study published on Tuesday…
White House: Florida doctors can order under-5 COVID shots Florida doctors will be able to directly order COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government, the White House said Friday, after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state would not order and distribute the shots in the state. The state was the only jurisdiction in the nation to decline to place advance orders for the pediatric shots, which received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday. Final authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and…
White House: Florida doctors can order under-5 COVID shots Florida doctors will be able to directly order COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5 from the federal government, the White House said Friday, after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state would not order and distribute the shots in the state. The state was the only jurisdiction in the nation to decline to place advance orders for the pediatric shots, which received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday. Final authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and…