Cup of Tea Staves Off Dementia

Try to remember this: a cup of tea a day can cut the risk of dementia by 50 percent. That’s the word from researchers at the National University of Singapore, where scientists collected data on the tea-drinking habits of close to 1,000 Chinese people over the age of 55. An NUS news release reports that the researchers, who collected data from 2003 to 2010, found that regular consumption of tea reduces elderly persons’ risk of cognitive decline by 50 per cent, and potentially up to 86 per cent for persons genetically at risk of Alzheimer’s. They believe that the neuroprotective properties are not limited to a specific type of tea. As long as the tea — whether black, green or oolong — is brewed from tea leaves, daily consumption of at least 200ml can help to reduce cognitive impairment. How does that work? The researchers point to the magic of bioactive compounds, including catechins, L-theanine, theaflavins and thearubigins.