Green Tea Consumption Affects Cognitive Dysfunction in the Elderly: A Pilot Study

• Main Authors: Kazuki Ide, Hiroshi Yamada, Norikata Takuma, Mijong Park, Noriko Wakamiya, Junpei Nakase, Yuuichi Ukawa, Yuko M. Sagesaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2014-09-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: green tea; oral administration; cognitive function; elderly
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/10/4032

Green tea is known to have various health benefits for humans. However, the effect of green tea consumption on cognitive dysfunction remains to be clinically verified. We conducted a clinical study to investigate the effects of green tea consumption on cognitive dysfunction. Twelve elderly nursing home residents with cognitive dysfunction (Mini-Mental State Examination Japanese version (MMSE-J) score: <28) participated in the study (2 men, 10 women; mean age, 88 years). The participants consumed green tea powder 2 g/day for 3 months. After three months of green tea consumption, the participants’ MMSE-J scores were significantly improved (before, 15.3 ± 7.7; after, 17.0 ± 8.2; p = 0.03). This result suggests that green tea consumption may be effective in improving cognitive function or reducing the progression of cognitive dysfunction; however, long-term large-scale controlled studies are needed to further clarify the effect.