At least some of coffee’s health benefits come from its compounds acting on a receptor protein in the human body known for its role in stress response and ageing , a new study reveals.

Decades of research suggest that coffee consumption is associated with a longer life and lower risk of chronic disease .

Population studies indicate a lower risk of several age-related diseases , including metabolic disease, some cancers, Parkinson’s disease, dementia and heart diseases among coffee drinkers.

Major chemicals in coffee, including polyphenols and flavonoids, have been proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which can protect cells from damage and ageing.

But exactly how these coffee chemicals bring about their benefits has remained unclear.

A Cappuccino cup is pictured (Getty Images for BMW)

Now, a new study reveals that coffee may work, in part, by acting on a receptor protein in the body known as NR4A1, increasingly recognised for its role in ageing, stress response, and heart…