Tea has long been touted for its wide array of health benefits, including mood improvement and cardiovascular disease prevention. But finding substantial evidence to back up these claims is more challenging, especially when searching for tea’s benefits on brain health.
Now, thanks to scientists from the National University of Singapore, we have a little more information to fill this research gap. The study has found that people who drink tea on a regular basis have better-organized brain regions – something associated with healthy cognitive function – compared to non-tea drinkers.
Over the course of three years, the team of researchers recruited 36 adults aged 60 and above and gathered data about their health, lifestyle, and psychological well-being. The elderly participants also had to undergo neuropsychological tests and MRIs.
Upon analyzing the participants’ cognitive performance and imaging results, the research team found that individuals who consumed either green tea, oolong tea, or black tea at least four times a week for about 25 years had more efficiently interconnected brain regions.