Green Tea and Brain Protection in Old Age

One of the most interesting studies is the effect of green tea on protecting the brain, especially in old age, when the risk of developing cognitive diseases and dementia increases significantly. Scientific evidence, including a recent study published in the journal npj Science of Food in 2025, confirms that regular consumption of green tea can play a crucial role in maintaining brain health and preventing dementia. (Link to the study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00364-w )

Brain Defense Mechanisms

Green tea is rich in polyphenols such as epicatechin gallate (EGCG), which have powerful antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. These compounds help combat oxidative stress, a process that damages brain cells and contributes to aging. EGCG also reduces the accumulation of amyloid plaques, which increases with the development of Alzheimer's disease. Studies such as those by Levites et al. (2003) show that green tea can protect neurons from beta-amyloid toxicity.

In addition, it has been established that green tea has a positive effect on inflammatory processes in the brain. Chronic inflammation is considered one of the main risk factors for the development of dementia, and polyphenols help to contain it, create more favorable conditions for the functioning of the nervous system. Thus, regular consumption of green tea can slow down degenerative changes and preserve cognitive functions in old age.

Scientific research data

A recent study conducted by the Japan Prospective Study of Aging and Dementia (JPSC-AD) and published in 2025 provides strong evidence of the link between green tea consumption and its positive effects on the brain. The study involved 8,766 people over 60 years of age without dementia living in Japan. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the volume of brain matter, hippocampus, and total brain volume, and analyzed data on green tea and coffee consumption using a questionnaire.

The results showed that people who regularly consumed green tea had a lower amount of white matter volume variability (WMLV), which affects blood flow and increases the risk of dementia. The higher the daily tea consumption (from 0–200 ml to more than 600 ml per day), the lower the WMLV/cTIV (the ratio of the volume of variability to the total intracranial volume) ratio. For example, those who drank more than 600 ml of green tea per day had an average WMLV/cTIV of 0.257 (95% CI: 0.248–0.266), while those who consumed less than 200 ml had a mean WMLV/cTIV of 0.276 (95% CI: 0.266–0.286). This difference persisted even after accounting for factors such as age, gender, education level, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and drinking habits.

Interestingly, no positive effects on the brain were observed with coffee consumption. This may indicate that green tea has unique properties, possibly due to its content of the polyphenol EGCG, which is not found in significant quantities in coffee.

Practical significance

The findings have important implications for the prevention of dementia. Brain cell damage in old age leads to impaired blood flow to the brain, which can lead to cognitive impairment. Drinking green tea can slow down these processes and maintain mental clarity in old age. With dementia becoming a major health issue in aging societies like Japan, simply including green tea in your daily diet may be an affordable and effective way to maintain brain health.

The study also found that people who drank more green tea were more likely to have a healthy lifestyle, with fewer smokers and drinkers and more people who exercised regularly. This suggests that green tea may be part of a comprehensive treatment for healthy aging.

Green tea is not just a tasty drink, but also a great partner for brain health in old age. Its ability to reduce the accumulation of amyloid plaques makes it a promising means of protecting against dementia. Of course, more research is needed to determine the optimal dosages and mechanisms of action, but it is already safe to say that a cup of green tea a day is not only a pleasure, but also an investment in future health. In a world where life expectancy is growing, such simple habits as a daily cup of green tea can play a key role in maintaining the quality of life for many years.

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