This study attempted to see how giving a cup of coffee, or not giving a cup of coffee, to 22 old people would affect the balance of those old people.
The study is: “The acute effects of coffee ingestion on postural control and physical function in older adults: A randomised crossover trial,” Darren L. Richardson, Matt Hill, Jason Tallis, Lucas Guimaraes Ferreira, and Neil D. Clarke, Experimental Gerontology, vol. 197, November 2024, article 112592.
The authors report: “this study investigated coffee ingestion providing 3 mg·kg BW-1 caffeine on balance performance and physical function, in a group of older adults. In a randomised, crossover design, 22 older adults (Male n = 10, Age: 68 ± 6 years) completed bipedal standing balance and physical function assessments (Senior Fitness Test) under one of the following conditions: caffeinated coffee (COF), decaffeinated coffee (DEC), placebo (PLA) or a control (CON) (no fluid ingestion)….”
The authors conclude that: “Overall, a strong cup of coffee does not significantly influence balance and measures of functional performance in healthy older adults.”