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A small, non-placebo controlled study found that green tea may be helpful for elderly individuals with cognitive dysfunction. Published in Nutrients, the study examined the effects of giving 2 grams of green tea powder daily to participants for three months. The tea powder contained 227 milligrams of catechins and 42 milligrams of theanine, both of which are active components of green tea and have been reported to improve cognition in animal studies. In addition, the participants, who all had some form of dementia and a mean age of 88, continued to consume their normal amounts of green tea, which the researchers also took into account. Here’s what they discovered:

• Memory scores, particularly those related to short-term memory, improved significantly in participants after three months of green tea consumption.
• Triglyceride levels improved significantly in participants after three months.
• Green tea did not cause any serious adverse side effects.

These findings are consistent with epidemiological research showing an association between green tea consumption and better cognitive function. The amounts of catechins and theanine in the 2 grams of green tea powder are equivalent to about 2 to 4 portions of green tea, suggesting that even in moderate amounts, green tea may benefit cognitive health.

Source: Nutrients