An estimated 6.7 million people in the US are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today, and this number could increase to 13.8 million by 2060, according to the NIH.
While there are many lifestyle choices that could lower your risk of dementia — including maintaining a good diet, exercising regularly, socializing and keeping your mind stimulated — recent research suggests there’s one humble beverage that can slash your risk with just a few sips.
A study out of Japan has found that older adults who regularly consume green tea have fewer cerebral white matter lesions, a key indicator of cognitive decline and dementia.
Researchers asked almost 9,000 adults to fill out a questionnaire about their coffee and tea-drinking habits and used brain scans to analyze their data.
While they did not find any evidence that coffee intake might prevent cognitive decline, their results did lead them to conclude that drinking green tea — especially three or more glasses a day — may help prevent dementia.
The findings align with previous studies that have shown green tea consumption can protect you from cognitive decline.
A 2022 meta-analysis indicates your risk of dementia decreases by 6% for every cup of green tea you consume.
Another recent study revealed that drinking two to three cups of green tea per day had a significantly reduced risk of cognitive decline — although the same effects were not observed after four cups or more.
Perhaps that’s why green tea is credited as one of the reasons older adults in Ikaria, a Greek island, have little to no dementia.
But the benefits of this herbal remedy don’t stop at boosting your brain.
Green tea is rich in antioxidants — particularly catechins like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) — which have anti-inflammatory and cell-protective properties, potentially reducing the risk of cancer and stroke.
Regularly consuming green tea has also been associated with improved heart health, including lower cholesterol levels and reduced blood pressure, thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A 2023 study found that people who consumed between two and four cups of green tea per day slashed their stroke risk by as much as 24%.
