Exciting news from the National Cancer Institute!

Older adults who drank coffee — caffeinated or decaffeinated — had a lower risk of death overall than others who did not drink coffee, according a study by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and AARP.

Coffee drinkers were less likely to die from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries and accidents, diabetes, and infections, although the association was not seen for cancer. These results from a large study of older adults were observed after adjustment for the effects of other risk factors on mortality, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. Researchers caution, however, that they can’t be sure whether these associations mean that drinking coffee actually makes people live longer. The results of the study were published in the May 17, 2012 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

I would not call myself an “older” adult, but I drink a lot of coffee. Probably enough coffee to advance me several years in age. My perception of time is so sped up that, despite technically being 37 years of age, my mind is at least 83. That’s got to count for some amount of longevity.

Also, let us not forget the apocryphal study that suggests staring at breasts improves heart health. You know the meme:

I’m going to live forever.