Preferred Beverage Over Coffee and Cocoa, According to Brain Research
Green tea, a popular beverage enjoyed worldwide, has long been revered for its potential benefits to cognitive function and brain health. Dr. Chen Wan-jun, a renowned researcher, asserts that green tea is a functional product whose impact on the central nervous system (CNS) is confirmed by decades of research.
The protective effect of green tea is primarily due to its high content of catechins, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most important catechin in green tea. These powerful antioxidants are beneficial for brain health, reducing oxidative stress, a primary cause of aging in nerve cells. EGCG acts as defenders of nerve cells, preventing damage and promoting the formation of new neural connections.
One of the key benefits of green tea is its ability to improve cognitive performance. A specific combination of green tea catechins and L-theanine (LGNC-07) has been shown to enhance memory, recognition speed, word reading, and selective attention in middle-aged adults with mild memory decline. This combination may work by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme involved in memory processes.
Moderate and high green tea consumption in older adults is linked to slower declines in fluid intelligence (problem-solving and reasoning abilities) over about a decade. This suggests protective effects against some forms of age-related cognitive decline.
Green tea's polyphenols can also increase dopamine availability in the brain, supporting improved memory and cognition. The balanced combination of green tea’s caffeine and L-theanine content helps improve focus, calm attention, memory, and mental clarity, reducing mental fatigue and enhancing cognitive function.
The cognitive benefits of green tea appear more robust in moderate consumption patterns rather than high caffeine intake, which may explain why tea is beneficial but high coffee consumption sometimes is not. Some studies emphasize green tea’s antioxidant properties potentially reducing oxidative stress in the brain, which may protect against neurodegenerative processes, although direct high-quality human evidence is limited.
Regular consumption of green tea also improves brain blood flow, further supporting its role in maintaining cognitive function as we age. Green tea, used traditionally by monks to maintain mental clarity during long meditations, may indeed help maintain cognitive function in our modern lives.
In summary, scientific research supports that moderate green tea intake, especially formulations rich in catechins and L-theanine, can enhance memory, attention, and slow cognitive decline through neurochemical and enzymatic pathways. These benefits make green tea a promising natural aid for maintaining brain health and cognitive function.
[1] Mori K, Inoue M, Ozawa Y, et al. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2009;80(1):39-45. [2] Kuriyama S, Hirohata N, Iso H, et al. Green tea consumption and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in Japan: the Ohsaki Cohort Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2006;166(16):1654-1661. [3] Xu L, Zhang Y, Zhang H, et al. Green tea polyphenols protect against amyloid-beta-induced neurotoxicity and improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(3):807-821. [4] Nobre AC, Rao A, Owen GN. L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:160-166. [5] Kennedy DO, Wightman EL, Ferris S, et al. Theanine and caffeine combine to stimulate wakefulness and alertness without hand tremor. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005;176(4):451-459.
- Green tea, rich in catechins like epigallocatechin-3-gallate, is a significant source of antioxidants beneficial for mental health, as these compounds reduce oxidative stress in nerve cells, promoting neural connection formation and acting as defenders against cell damage.
- The combination of green tea catechins and L-theanine has been found to boost cognitive performance, enhancing memory, recognition speed, word reading, and selective attention in individuals with mild memory decline, possibly by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme essential for memory processes.
- Scientific research indicates that moderate green tea consumption, particularly formulations enriched with catechins and L-theanine, can strengthen memory, attention, and slow cognitive decline by means of neurochemical and enzymatic pathways, making it a promising natural aid for maintaining brain health and cognitive function.
