People often say the moment you open your eyes is when you wake up. While that might be true for some, it’s not for everyone – myself included.
For me, waking up happens the second I take that first sip of my morning coffee. There have been days when I’ve woken up to find myself in the lab, not entirely sure how I got there. After I published my article Tea Tales on February 19, 2024 many coffee lovers reached out, asking me to write about coffee. Better late than never, right?
Coffee drinking is a habit passed down through generations, influenced by our genes. Sandra Sanchez-Roige, PhD from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, and her international team of researchers, took a deep dive into coffee habits using data from large genetic studies. They aimed to uncover the genetic links to coffee consumption.
Hayley Thorpe, PhD, led the research, collecting genetic data and self-reported coffee habits. They conducted a genome-wide association study to connect genes related to coffee consumption with health traits.
“We used this data to pinpoint regions on the genome linked to coffee consumption,” explained Thorpe, “and identify the genes and biology behind it.”
Abraham Palmer, PhD, another lead researcher, noted that many people are surprised to learn there’s a genetic component to coffee drinking. “Earlier studies hinted at genes influencing coffee consumption,” he said. “Our findings confirmed that gene variants inherited from parents do affect how much coffee someone is likely to drink.”
The researchers tackled two big questions: First, is there a genetic influence on coffee consumption? And second, is drinking coffee good or bad for you? Their study found consistent genetic links between coffee and negative health outcomes like obesity and substance use. However, the results varied with psychiatric conditions.
Sanchez-Roige pointed out that coffee’s effects depend on many factors, including the type of coffee and cultural differences in consumption. “Your genotype might lead to different outcomes depending on whether you live in the UK or the US,” she said. “Unlike traits like height, your coffee habits and choices are shaped by your environment, making the picture more complex.”
The researchers emphasised the need for further studies to untangle the genetic and environmental influences on coffee and oth- er substance use. Who knew that something as simple as a morning cup of joy could have such a complex and fascinating background?
Cheers to science and the never-ending quest for knowledge – one coffee cup at a time! Now, if only my genes could explain why I keep losing my keys…
(ammar.shakr@gmail.com)
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