Prolonged Coffee Consumption: Neurological Impacts and Cognitive Effects After Discontinuation

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances globally, largely due to its caffeine content. While moderate intake is associated with cognitive benefits and neuroprotection, prolonged, high-dose use may lead to neuroadaptive changes, altering neuronal thresholds, dependence and long-term brain plasticity. This review investigates the neurocognitive consequences of chronic coffee consumption and the withdrawal-related
effects on brain cell thresholds, synaptic function, and higher-order cognition. The findings suggest that abrupt cessation after prolonged use can transiently impair attention, mood, and executive function due to neurochemical dysregulation.