Time for another cup of tea then? Tea drinkers have better brains, say researchers with even better brains • The Register



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Researchers at the National University of Singapore found that drinking tea regularly was really good for the health, especially for the brain. They say that they also discovered why.

Previous studies on tea consumption have found positive effects such as the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the confirmation of Dr. Johnson's 18th century claim regarding tea's propensity to improve mood.

The latest research, led by Feng Lei, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Medicine at NUS, builds on his earlier work that daily tea consumption halves the risk of cognitive decline in older adults. By this time, he had already begun to focus more on the effects of tea on the brain.

Working in collaboration with researchers from the University of Essex and the University of Cambridge, Lei's team studied 36 adults over 60 years old, analyzing data relating to their their lifestyle and their psychological well-being. Participants also underwent multiple MRI and neuropsychological examinations over a four-year period.

The results showed that habitual tea drinkers had interconnected brain regions more effectively than those who avoided tea altogether.

It all comes down to the fact that tea drinkers have well-structured relationships between different areas of the brain. Such "improved brain organization is achieved by preventing disruption of interregional connections," said Lei, suggesting that it could act as bioactive compounds in the tea that does the prevention.

So, what kind of tea should you drink to ensure a long life with all your marbles intact in the end?

Green tea, oolong or good old black tea; fruit infusions and herbal teas are do not on the list. And you have to drink it at least four times a week for about 25 years.

A parallel study on the effect of scones, crumpets and digestive biscuits would not go wrong. ®

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