Because of the high levels of antioxidants, tea consumption is often associated with a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. However, the potential health benefits of drinking tea may not stop there. Researchers have found that regular tea drinking may cut the risk of cognitive decline in older adults by half, especially those at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Americans are also big tea drinkers, and in 2015, more than 3.6 billion gallons of tea were consumed nationwide, with black tea being the most popular. Numerous studies have been reported on the health benefits of tea. Some research suggests that drinking tea may also be good for the brain, with one study suggesting that drinking green tea is associated with better memory. Researchers collected data from 957 Chinese adults over the age of 55 in an attempt to determine the link between tea drinking and cognitive decline. Between 2003 and 2005, the team collected information on the participants’ tea consumption, including how much tea they drank, how often they consumed tea and the type of tea they consumed. Every 2 years, the researchers administered standardized assessments to evaluate the participants’ cognitive function until 2010. 72 patients with de novo neurocognitive impairment were identified between 2006 and 2010. Tea drinkers had an 86 percent lower risk of cognitive decline compared to adults who rarely drank tea, and regular tea drinkers had a 50 percent lower risk of cognitive decline. In addition, among adults who carried the Alzheimer’s disease risk gene APOE e4, regular tea drinkers had an 86% lower risk of cognitive decline. The study took into account many other possible influences, including medical conditions, social activity, physical activity and lifestyle, and this difference persisted after excluding these factors. The aim of the study was not to determine the mechanism behind the brain-healthy effects of tea, but rather to understand the beneficial compounds in this beverage, such as theaflavins, catechins, theophylline and L-theanine. ”These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential as well as biological activity to protect the brain from vascular damage and neurodegenerative diseases.” The researchers explained. “Our understanding of the specific biological mechanisms is still very limited, so we need more studies to find out for sure.” Simple, inexpensive lifestyle could prevent dementia According to World Health Organization data, about 47.5 million people worldwide have dementia, with about 7.7 million new cases each year. By 2050, the number of people living with dementia is estimated to increase to 135.5 million. The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, remains incurable to this day. As humans live longer and the number of older people increases, so does the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Although the study was conducted among the Chinese, the researchers say their findings are likely to be applicable to other populations and have important implications for dementia prevention. For example, drinking tea, a simple and inexpensive lifestyle, may be able to reduce people’s risk of developing cognitive impairment in later life. The researchers plan to further study the link between tea and cognitive function. They hope to conduct randomized controlled trials to rigorously examine the health effects of tea’s active compounds.