Tea drinking has long been celebrated for its many health benefits; green tea has been linked with a lower risk for cancer, diabetes and heart disease but a new study is looking at tea’s potential to reduce the incidence of dementia in older adults.
A Chinese study, published recently in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, of more than 950 seniors over the age of 55 found that regularly drinking tea lowered the risk for cognitive impairment in older adults by 50 per cent.
Consistently drinking green and black or oolong tea was seen to reduce the risk for neurocognitive disorders among older adults. In those with a genetically increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers found that the rate of cognitive decline was reduced by up to 86 per cent with regular tea consumption.
Drinking tea more often can also benefit your waistline if it replaces sugary drinks or alcohol. Polyphenols in tea have been studied for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which, combined with a healthy diet, may offer some protection against chronic illness including vascular damage in the brain and neurodegeneration.
Although the study followed community-dwelling Chinese adults, researchers are confident the findings could apply to all races and may be an important and cost effective means of preventing or delaying the onset of dementia.
To read more about the study visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine by following this link.
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