It is often said that any problem can be solved with a good cup of tea, and a new study has found that there is science to support this long-held belief.
Pensioners who drink more than five cups a day have been found to have better brain function than their counterparts who don’t, according to researchers.
In a study of 676 people aged over 85, tea drinkers who enjoyed more than five mugs a day were shown to have more focus and a sustained attention span.
The Newcastle University research also found that they demonstrated better psychomotor skills which link brain and movement.
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Research nurses gather information by visiting participants in their own homes to complete a health assessment made up of questionnaires, measurements, function tests and a fasting blood test.
Examining the consumption of black tea, Camellia sinensis, the researchers were looking for evidence that it protected against cognitive decline.
They found that higher tea consumption was associated with significantly better attention skills and psychomotor speed on complex tasks.
However, they found no association between tea consumption and overall measures of memory or performance on simple speed tasks.
The results have been published in BMC Nutrition.
The researchers suggest the findings mean black tea should be considered for the very old in any diet.
Five cups of tea a day can help pensioners improve their attention spans, study finds
Pensioners who drink more than five cups a day have been found to have better brain function than their counterparts who don t
29 December 2020 • 4:01pm
Dr Edward Okello, from Newcastle University s Human Nutrition Research Centre said: We now know that enjoying a cup of tea quenches your thirst and has benefits for over 85s attention span.
Credit: PA
It is often said that any problem can be solved with a good cup of tea, and a new study has found that there is science to support this long-held belief.