It appears that an intake of 4 cups of coffee per day has been linked to a 20% lower risk of depression in a study that examined only women. The benefits of drinking coffee seem to start with two cups a day and increase from there, although the same link was not seen for decaf coffee.

Of course, you must remember that this study does not show cause and effect, because despite being a large and well-conducted study, it was purely observational. No doctor or mental health professional will tell you to start consuming more caffeine just because of this research.

Still, if you’re already a coffee drinker, the job supports your choice.

The researchers looked at more than 50,000 women who were, on average, 63 years old and participated in the long-term Nurses’ Health Study. None of them had signs of depression when the study began in 1996, and all provided information on how much caffeine they consumed through June 2006.

The subjects also said if they had been diagnosed with clinical depression and if they started using antidepressant medications. During the follow-up period, 2,607 of the subjects were diagnosed with depression.

But the larger volumes of coffee consumed, the less likely a subject was to become depressed. The team saw a dose response. Those who consumed 2 to 3 cups a day had a 15% lower risk of depression, while those who consumed four (or more) had a 20% lower risk.

No one can explain the link…although experts do know that caffeine enters the brain and activates some neurotransmitters that are linked to depression; including serotonin and dopamine.

This is a short-term effect. No one can say how the relationship between coffee and depression plays out in the long term. There have also been studies that find a relationship between drinking coffee and reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

The findings are also consistent with a study that found suicide risk is reduced among those who consume more coffee. There has also been work finding that men who drink coffee also have reduced rates of depression.

Depression occurs in twice as many women as men, and about 20% of American women will experience depression at some point in their lives. We are past the days when depression was considered a genetic weakness of temperament; Doctors today recognize this condition as the serious medical illness that it is. If a tasty and easily available drink could prevent that to some extent and alleviate the suffering of millions, it would be a big step in the right direction.

If you, or someone in your life, is dealing with depression, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Feeling hopeless and helpless are symptoms of this disease and are not reality. Also, ways to feel better are different for everyone…so take the time to review all your options…medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, as well as the benefits of coffee consumption mentioned in this report . Most of the time, the best treatment involves a combination of lifestyle changes, emotional skill building, social support, and help from a trained professional.