Daily Tea Consumption May Protect Seniors from Dementia

Daily tea consumption may protect against Alzheimer's and cognitive decline in seniors, according to research conducted by the National University of Singapore.

The study followed 957 Chinese retirees aged 55 and above over seven years and found that regular tea consumption reduced the risk of cognitive decline by fifty percent. For those at risk for Alzheimer's due to genetic factors, tea drinking reduced the risk by 86 percent.

The research team also found that tea's ability to protect brain function in seniors was not confined to a specific type of tea, as long as the brew was made from tea leaves and not other plants. "Although the study was conducted on Chinese seniors, the results are likely relevant to other ethnicities," says Professor Feng Lei, who led the research. "Despite numerous trials, therapeutic solutions for neurodegenerative diseases like dementia have not yet been found, and current preventative strategies are far from satisfactory. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and our research data proves that a simple daily habit like drinking tea can lower the risk of cognitive decline in old age."

According to current knowledge, Professor Feng Lei adds, the positive effect of tea appears to stem from compounds such as catechins that have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which protect the brain from vascular damage.