Tea can help in fight against Alzheimer's, researchers conclude
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It could be one of the most popular medicines to be prescribed. Research shows that the 196 million cups of tea which Britons consume every day could form a potent weapon in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
It could be one of the most popular medicines to be prescribed. Research shows that the 196 million cups of tea which Britons consume every day could form a potent weapon in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
Tea is already thought to protect the body against heart disease and cancers but research published yesterday shows black and green tea inhibit the activity of enzymes associated with the development of Alzheimer's, a form of dementia that affects about 10 million people around the world.
The findings come in the wake of much research that suggest flavanoids contained in tea, particularly green tea, protect against strokes, heart attacks and many different types of cancers, as well as more prosaic conditions such as tooth decay and dehydration. One study shows that drinking three cups a day is the equivalent of eating six apples.
Green and black tea derive from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, which is grown throughout the tropics but also in places such as Turkey. Black tea consists of fermented leaves, comes mainly from India and forms the basis of traditional types drunk in Britain such as Assam or Ceylon. Green tea is less processed and is popular in China and Japan, where it has been linked to longevity and low rates of heart disease and cancer.
Scientists at Newcastle University's Medicinal Plant Research Centre found both teas inhibited the activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down the chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Alzheimer's is characterised by reduced acetylcholine. Both teas also hinder the activity of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which has been found in protein deposits on the brains of patients with Alzheimer's.
Green tea went one step further in obstructing the activity of beta-secretase, which helps produce protein deposits in the brain linked to Alzheimer's. The findings, published in Phytotherapy Research, could help in developing treatments for Alzheimer's. The researchers are seeking funds to further investigate green tea in the hope of creating a medicinal tea.
Dr Ed Okello, the lead researcher and a green tea drinker himself, said: "Our findings are particularly exciting as tea is already a popular drink, it is inexpensive, and there do not seem to be any adverse side-effects.''
WHAT'S IN YOUR CUP?
GOOD:
* Flavonoids: A type of anti-oxidant said to protect against certain types of heart disease and cancers.
* Fluoride: Tea provides a higher proportion of our daily intake of fluoride, which prevents tooth decay, than toothpaste.
BAD:
* Tannins: Without milk, the tannin in tea binds to your insides, tanning them like leather; with milk, they bind to the milk's proteins.
* Caffeine: Less than coffee, but more than Coke. Caffeine is said to aggravate heart conditions.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments