Does Coffee Worsen Chronic Pain in Older Adults? New Study Raises Red Flags

 For many people, a cup of coffee in the morning is an essential ritual for waking up. But a recent study has raised a warning for older coffee lovers. Researchers from Nicolaus Copernicus University in Poland published findings in QJM: An International Journal of Medicine suggesting that increased coffee consumption may worsen chronic pain in older adults.

As people age, both the likelihood and intensity of chronic pain tend to increase, making it one of the most significant factors affecting quality of life in later years. The researchers also noted, however, that daily diet may play a crucial role in managing this issue. With scientifically guided dietary adjustments, it may be possible to significantly reduce the burden of chronic pain.

The study followed 205 healthy adults aged 60 and older over a two-year period. Researchers regularly assessed participants’ pain levels using a 0–10 pain scale (with 0 indicating no pain and 10 representing extreme pain), while also closely tracking changes in their daily coffee and fish consumption.

The results were striking. Compared to participants who reduced their fish intake, older men and women who consistently consumed higher amounts of fish experienced an average decrease of 4.45 points in pain scores. In contrast, compared to those who reduced coffee intake, older adults who increased their coffee consumption showed an average increase of 6.56 points in pain intensity.

The research team explained that the association between increased coffee intake and worsening pain suggests caffeine may play a negative role. While low doses of caffeine may have mild analgesic effects, long-term or high-dose consumption can increase neuronal excitability, significantly heightening pain sensitivity in older adults. These findings carry important public health implications for managing chronic pain in aging populations and may prompt the medical community to reconsider the role of coffee in older adults’ daily diets.

Previous research has already raised concerns about common morning coffee habits. A 2020 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning significantly increases the risk of digestive pain and heartburn. James Betts, co-director of the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism at the University of Bath, has also pointed out that many people’s first action after waking up is making coffee—often brewing it stronger when they feel especially tired.

He emphasized that while a single night of poor sleep may not dramatically affect overall metabolism, drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning can seriously disrupt blood sugar regulation, increasing the risk of metabolic imbalance. What feels like a quick energy boost may, in reality, place a hidden burden on the body.

For those who can’t give up coffee entirely, scientists offer a simple recommendation: eat something before drinking coffee. Doing so can significantly reduce coffee’s impact on blood sugar and lower the risk of digestive discomfort.

The researchers also cautioned that these conclusions should be interpreted carefully. “Although we observed clear associations between increased coffee intake and worsening pain, as well as increased fish intake and pain relief, these relationships require larger and longer-term studies for further confirmation.”