A recent study conducted by the Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Kanazawa University has revealed the potential benefits of regular green tea consumption for brain health in older adults. The researchers discovered that individuals who drink three or more glasses of green tea per day may have fewer cerebral white matter lesions, which are linked to cognitive decline and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
The findings are based on data from the Japan Prospective Studies Collaboration for Ageing and Dementia, involving multiple research centers across the country. Using MRI scans, the researchers examined the impact of green tea and coffee intake on brain structure, white matter lesions, hippocampal volume, and overall brain size.
Although both green tea and coffee are known for their neuroprotective properties, the study found that coffee did not have a significant effect on brain health. The results, published in the npj Science of Food journal, suggest that incorporating green tea into daily dietary habits could have long-term advantages for older individuals.
“This cross-sectional study identified a notable association between lower cerebral white matter lesions and increased green tea consumption, particularly in older adults without dementia, even after adjusting for various factors,” noted the researchers in their published paper.
“Our findings imply that consuming green tea, especially three or more glasses daily, might play a role in dementia prevention,” the researchers stated. However, they also emphasized the need for further prospective studies and basic research to confirm these initial results.
