Can Drinking Green Tea Benefit People with Alzheimer's Disease?

Delegates at the 1st International Quality Research in Dementia conference in London will this afternoon hear new research on the possible benefits to older people and people with Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia from drinking green tea.

The study of 485 people over age 80 -- conducted by Saga Medical School in Japan and funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education -- found that 96 per cent of those people who drank 10 cups of green tea a day did not show any cognitive impairment within 2 years. In contrast, 12 per cent of those people who drank less than 3 cups of green tea a day showed a cognitive decline over two years.

Previous research has shown green tea to be effective in preventing vascular diseases such as stroke. But this is the first study to look at the possible protective effects of drinking Japanese green tea against cognitive impairment in older people. Alcohol, coffee drinking and stress were found to disturb the protective effects of green tea in the study.

Dr Richard Harvey, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, commented:

'This paper is just one example of the varied nature of research into the causes, cure and care of dementia taking place around the world. I am pleased that Quality Research in Dementia has provided a suitable forum for its first hearing.'

21 Nov 2000

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