Research has suggested that one simple switch could decrease the chances of developing dementia.
The condition is affecting more people in the UK as the population ages.
Now, research has revealed a new tool that could help stave it off.
A Japanese programme concluded that older people who regularly drink green tea had fewer lesions linked to dementia in their brains.
It was previously found that coffee, which typically has a bigger caffeine kick, has anti-inflammatory effects. But green tea can be better for people’s health over the long-term, the Telegraph reports.
This is because it also ensures that calories are limited, as people often add milk, sugar or cream to coffee.
Made from steeped leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis, green tea, meanwhile, contains catechins, a type of antioxidant.
80% of these are categorised as a particularly beneficial denomination – epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Research published in 2023 included seven prospective cohort studies covering 410,951 individuals, published from 2009 and 2022.
Experts said: “The pooling analysis shows that the relationship between tea intake or consumption is associated with a reduced risk of all-cause dementia.”
The research also found that tea intake or consumption could reduce the risk of all-cause dementia to a greater degree among populations with less physical activity, older age, APOE – a protein involved in the metabolism of fats in the body – carriers, and smokers.
Its conclusion said: “Our meta-analysis demonstrated that tea (green tea or black tea) intake or consumption is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of dementia, AD or VD.
“These findings provide evidence that tea intake or consumption should be recognized as an independent protective factor against the onset of dementia, AD or VD.”