A survey of roughly 1,400 Italian nationals aged 65 to 84 suggests that habitually drinking coffee may keep the brain healthy into the later years. According to a report from UPI, the survey’s findings support earlier research that points to certain neuroprotective properties of coffee.

Scientists at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy compared coffee consumption habits of 1,445 Italians with their neurological health, and found that people who consumed an average to two cups each day were less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that those who abstained from the beverage.

That’s not to say that drinking coffee all day is a good idea. The findings also showed that people who drank more cups of coffee over time had an increased risk of mild dementia. There appears to be a “sweet spot” for how much coffee one can drink without increasing the risks to mental health.

The researchers suspect that certain compounds in coffee can help keep neurons free of the harmful plaques that build up and cause Alzheimer’s and other cognitive diseases.

There are a growing number of studies on the mental benefits of coffee, and some have even shown that a good cup of joe could protect people from stroke and high blood pressure, and even certain cancers.