How Does Coffee Reduce Depression

Some people need that dose of caffeine to keep going. I bet you and I both have had those sort of caffeine frenzies where we just need some to boost our energy, mood and vigilance. Study proves that coffee has a negative correlation with depression. What I mean by this is that ingestion of caffeine can reduce depression. But how does this happen?

Harmony of the Hormones

Imagine a lock. You need one specific key shape for that. Nothing else can do. That's how receptors in the brain work. Now, these receptors basically allow cells to communicate. It's like their own language. Suppose cell A wants to tell cell B or gland B, "Make me sleepy!", it does so by releasing a small molecule called a neurotransmitter which is the messenger pigeon in this entire communication. Now, the neurotransmitter for sleepiness is Adenosine. Adenosine binds to Adenosine receptors and a part of your brain reduces the alertness from your vision and makes you sleepy.

However, caffeine counteracts Adenosine, preventing it from binding to the receptor. This stops you from being tired and sleepy. 

Furthermore, it also stimulates all those hormones that make you feel good about yourself. This includes serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline all of which are involved in reducing depression.

Long Term

Studies prove that people drinking coffee have fewer depressive symptoms in the long term as well! Unfortunately, there's no association between tea, decaffeinated coffee, caffeinated tea, sugared soft drink and chocolate with depression (according to long-term 2000 and 2010 studies which spanned a large mass of people and lasted a few decades or so). 

Self-Medication

A large group study in 1993 proved that greater coffee consumption reduced the risk of suicides. This causes researchers to speculate if high doses of coffee could actually serve as a self-medication to those undergoing depression or committing suicide attempts.

Maybe, sometime in the near future, coffee would actually help in making the world a happier and healthier place. While it does come with drawbacks, I believe adequate consumption could actually have a positive impact on people worldwide.