If you’ve been drinking your green tea (and faithfully following our blog), you probably remember we shared news about a study linking green tea to improved brain functions in Alzheimer’s patients a while ago. Since then, there have been some exciting developments, with more scientists chiming in to share what they’ve discovered about the connection between green tea and memory.
What once seemed like folk wisdom has been slowly turning into a mountain of evidence and now, no less than four different studies are pointing towards green tea’s potential for helping Alzheimer’s patients!
Forbes has a great roundup of the studies, which you can check out here. Like the past study we shared with you, it seems like the flavonoid EGCG is the key component in helping patients to retain their cognitive abilities. For more comprehensive reporting on green tea’s connection to Alzheimer’s, take a look at this article from Tuft’s University.
Although green tea is far from becoming an instant cure to Alzheimer’s, scientists are learning ways in which it could help patients who suffer from the disease. Whether or not you develop Alzheimer’s or dementia is influenced by many factors, including your lifestyle and genetic makeup.
Making an effort to stay mentally active every day is just as important as having your cup of green tea. An inactive mind is more likely to atrophy with time, so stay engaged with the world around you! Here are some suggestions for exercising your brain each day:
-
Take a different route to and from work.
-
Work on a crossword or Sudoko puzzle.
-
Do physical exercises that challange your coordination, like dance.
-
Play chess, checkers, cards or other strategic games.
-
Keep a journal.
-
Write letters to friends.
-
Take a class at your community college or try out a free online course.
How do you keep your brain engaged? Share your own ideas in the comments below!