Chai on for improved mental health

Research claims drinking black and green tea could shield you from dementia

Drinking tea could shield you from dementia, a new study claims. Scientists say drinking tea can lower the risk of cognitive impairment by 50%, reported Daily Mail. And the risk fell by as much as 86% for older adults who have a genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers say both green and black teas contain bioactive compounds that improve memory and prevent brain cells from dying. The study, conducted at the National University of Singapore, studied more than 900 Chinese seniors who were aged 55 or older.



Participants provided the researchers with information on the amount of tea they drank from 2003 to 2005. The researchers assessed them on cognitive function every two years until 2010. They also collected data on lifestyle, medical conditions, and physical and social activity. Out of the sample, only 72 seniors developed a neurocognitive disorder.

The team found that seniors reduced their risk of these disorders by up to 50% when they consumed two or more cups of green tea or black/oolong tea daily. Long-term benefits are due to the bioactive compounds in the leaves, such as catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins and L-theanine, the researchers noted.

“While the study was conducted on Chinese elderly, the results could apply to other races as well,” said Dr Feng Lei, an assistant professor of psychological medicine at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. “Our findings have important implications for dementia prevention.



Despite high quality drug trials, effective pharmacological therapy for neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia, remains elusive and current prevention strategies are far from satisfactory.”

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