Can Caffeine Cause Depression?

Caffeine, the primary component within many drinks such as coffee and energy drinks, is a compound that can increase the activity of the brain. It does this by specifically enhancing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a molecule that carries chemical signals throughout the body to induce physiological functions such as muscle contraction.

Many high school students ingest caffeine on a daily basis. In fact, one study found that 73% of high school students and 86% of college students in the US ingest caffeine in any form on a daily basis. These numbers are incredibly high considering that 66% of Americans have reported to consume caffeine daily. But why do so many adolescents consume caffeine? One group of researchers found that many youths enjoyed short-term effects such as enhanced mood and alertness and the ability to stay awake during early classes. The same researchers found that caffeine ingestion improved information processing, heightened attention span, and increased reaction time. These effects likely made it easier for students to proceed throughout school and perform adequately, leading to the addition of coffee or energy drinks in their daily routine.

Corporations have begun to take note of the increase in caffeine consumption within students. In fact, energy drink companies have begun to license their products as “performance enhancing”, especially for sports. These drinks are also filled with additive sugars and stimulants, with caffeine as its main ingredient. In addition, flavored beverages have also been made available to the market. Caffeinated sodas and flavored water may contain caffeine and appeal to youth through the use of flashy colors, creative names, and appealing flavors. Companies have also begun to utilize social media in order to spread their brand. Through the use of platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, coffee and energy drink companies have started to develop a following in order to attract more youth to consume their goods.

Yet despite some of the positive short-term side effects, caffeine has displayed the potential to lead to the development of anxiety and depression. Studies dating back to the 1980s have demonstrated that moderate/high caffeine consumers experience higher anxiety levels compared to non-consumers. A more recent study in the 2010s reflected a similar idea, adding that mania, or an elevated change in emotion, can be induced as a result of caffeine. Additional symptoms that researchers have found to be linked to high concentrations of caffeine include sleep deprivation, nervousness, and a lack of flow in speech or thought. Although these caffeine side effects are largely universal, there are two groups that are the most likely to display adverse results: teenagers and individuals afflicted with mental disorders. This is relevant as a CDC study discovered that 20% of individuals aged 13 to 17 experience a mental or behavioral disorder. Furthermore, additional research has shown a positive correlation between coffee consumption and depressive symptoms among middle and high school students.

The study presented in the article utilized 3000+ school children between the ages of 11 and 17 and provided them with a questionnaire regarding their consumption of food substances such as caffeine. In addition to this survey, the researchers also provided a separate list of questions that asked the adolescents about their stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The scientists discovered that there was a correlation between depression and caffeine consumption. However, differences in race, sex, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status had some influence on the teenagers’ responses. For example, males had a lower threshold of caffeine consumption that would be necessary in order to lead to the development of depression. Also, males demonstrated an association between caffeine and anxiety while females didn’t. The experimenters concluded that based on their study and previous models that fit their data, caffeine consumption is correlated with depression. However, due to the nature of the study as an observational design, the results cannot be linked to causation. Thus, more work should be done to infer a true cause-and-effect scenario.

Works Cited:

Tsetlin V. I. (2020). Acetylcholine and Acetylcholine Receptors: Textbook Knowledge and New Data. Biomolecules, 10(6), 852. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10060852

Kelly, C. K., & Prichard, J. R. (2016). Demographics, Health, and Risk Behaviors of Young Adults Who Drink Energy Drinks and Coffee Beverages. Journal of caffeine research, 6(2), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1089/jcr.2015.0027

NCA (2022). Coffee consumption hits two decade high. https://www.ncausa.org/Newsroom/Coffee-consumption-hits-two-decade-high-2022-NCDT

Cree, R. A., Bitsko, R. H., Robinson, L. R., Holbrook, J. R., Danielson, M. L., Smith, C., Kaminski, J. W., Kenney, M. K., & Peacock, G. (2018). Health Care, Family, and Community Factors Associated with Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders and Poverty Among Children Aged 2-8 Years - United States, 2016. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 67(50), 1377–1383. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6750a1