Health

Daily cuppa really is good for you as drinking tea fends off dementia


A daily cuppa really can perk us up as we age – by slowing mental decline and fending off dementia.

Scans reveal older people who enjoy at least four brews a day have “better organised” brain structures.

An international team, including Cambridge University researchers, reckons tea prevents connections between neurons breaking down.

And the benefits can be reaped from all varieties – from traditional English blends to exotics like oolong and green.

Lead author Professor Feng Lei said: “Our results offer the first evidence of positive contribution of tea to brain structure, a protective effect against age-related decline in brain organisation.”

Brain scans have identified the benefits of tea

Drinking tea could help elderly people reduce their dementia risk

 

Brains have 86 billion nerve cells, or neurons, each linked to 200,000 others to manage thinking, learning and memory. A study of 1,000 two years ago found tea halved the risk of developing dementia over the next decade.

Now, MRI scans on 36 over-60s show those who drink tea at least four times a week have more efficient connections between brain regions.

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The participants were also studied for health, lifestyle and psychological well-being. And those who had been drinking tea about 25 years had the best brains.

Experts believe antioxidants called flavonoids are the key ingredient.

Prof Lei, of the National University of Singapore, added: “Our study suggests tea is effective in preventing cognitive decline. Tea drinking might be a simple lifestyle choice to benefit brain health.”

Around 850,000 have dementia in the UK – expected to hit two million by 2050.





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