Tea is among the most popular beverages in the world. It offers a wide range of health benefits to users including reducing risk to heart attack and stroke, aiding with weight loss and preventing cancer. However, many people are not aware of the ability this beverage has to lower the risk of developing Dementia among the elderly.

Recent studies show that taking black, oolong or green tea regularly reduces chances of developing cognitive impairment among elderly people by 50 percent. Also, studies show that among people with genetic disposition to Alzheimer’s disease, regular intake of tea reduces the risk of developing Dementia by up to 86 percent. Here are tea properties that enable it to prevent cognitive impairment in tea drinkers:

a.    Anti-inflammatory properties

Tea contains active compounds that are instrumental in lowering inflammation levels and inflammatory reactions in the body. Studies show the modern ailments such as metabolic syndrome, arthritis and depression are as a result of inflammation. The anti-inflammatory properties of tea help in preventing vascular damage and neuro-degeneration in the brain, aspects that contribute to development of Dementia.

b.    Anti-oxidant properties

Previous studies have found that tea has high levels of antioxidants. Long term consumption of tea results to antioxidant effects. This is because tea contains bioactive compounds that occur in the leaves and are known to have antioxidant effects. Researchers have found antioxidants in eye tissues of regular tea users, which is an indication of the high levels of antioxidants in tea.

c.    Bioactive properties

The bioactive compounds found in tea are known to protect the brain. This prevents neuro-degeneration and vascular damage from occurring in the brain. The two conditions are known to result to development of Dementia. Further, tea helps on lowering levels of a stress hormone known as cortisol. This hormone is known to quicken the aging process and contributes to accumulation of fat in the belly area. Studies show that taking 4 cups of tea daily can reduce the rate at which cortisol spikes.

d.    Nerve Synapses

Tea reduces dementia through several pathways. These include regulation of blood sugar levels and nerve synapses. It enables a person to remain sharp even as they age. Studies conducted in 2011 show tea responds to brain theta ways in order to increase a person’s attention span and improve memory. This means that by taking tea regularly before age catches up helps lower the risk of dementia.

e.    Amino-acids

Multiple studies show that tea contains amino acids known as L-theanine that occur naturally as well as caffeine. These compounds help in improving memory and reaction time. They are also known to increase the concentration and focus of individual, aspects that reduce the possibilities of developing cognitive problems later in life.

As a beverage, tea has been in existence for many years. Over this time, it has been used for to relieve different conditions, from hangover prevention to reduction of common cold and weight control. Modern day scientific research continues to shed more light on numerous health benefits that tea offers. Prevention of dementia is one of the most recent discoveries.

Compounds such as catechins, antioxidants and polyphenols that impact people’s health positively are known to occur in true tea, irrespective of type. This includes green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea and pu-erh. Overall, persons who drink tea on a regular basis tend to live healthier lives. When taken regularly, 2 to 3 cups of tea per day that is sugar and calorie free can support different health aspects including brain condition, body and skin composition.