Your daily cup of tea may be key to reduce risk of dementia: study

Washington: Good news for tea lovers, as a study finds drinking just one cup of tea daily may significantly lower the risk of dementia by 50 percent.

The findings, published in journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, indicate that those carrying the gene of dementia can also slash their likelihood of developing toxic clumps in their brain by as much as 86 percent.

According to researchers from the National University of Singapore, whether you prefer a green tea or black tea, compounds such as catechins and theaflavins in the tea leaves are considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

"These may help to protect the brain from vascular damage and neurodegeneration," said lead researcher Dr Feng Lei. "The data from our study suggests that a simple and inexpensive lifestyle measure such as daily tea drinking can reduce a person's risk of developing neurocognitive disorders in late life," Lei added.

They analysed 957 adults over the age of 55 for 12 years and collected information on their lifestyles, medical conditions and physical activities.

The participants were assessed after every two years on their cognitive function using standardised tools. The findings have important implications for dementia prevention, reports the Mail Online.

The new report shows that long-term intake of tea helps to fill the body with powerful antioxidants that boost cognitive function.

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

However, it could also prevent Parkinson's and other neurological disorders, an analysis funded by six of Europe's biggest coffee companies found.