Green Tea Improves Memory-Related Learning
Study description: Knowing that green tea
catechins have potent antioxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities,
researchers wondered if they could help protect the brain from degeneration -
particularly in the area of spatial cognition (navigating, finding one's way and
orienting oneself in regard to space).
Type of study: Animal
Study methods: Rats were given either
green tea extract in their drinking water or plain water (the control group) for
26 weeks. Then they were placed in a maze and evaluated as to their ability to
learn and remember.
What happened: Compared to the controls,
the rats given green tea extract had improved memory-related learning ability.
They also had lower concentrations of lipid peroxides (free radicals) and
greater concentrations of antioxidants in their bloodstreams. They also had
lower levels of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) in the hippocampus area
of their brains (an area that governs memory).
Researchers' conclusion: "We suggest that
this improvement in spatial cognitive learning ability is due to the
antioxidative activity of green tea catechins."
Citation: Haque AM, Hashimoto M, Katakura
M, et al. Long-term administration of green tea catechins improves spatial
cognition learning ability in rats. J Nutr 2006;136(4):1043-47. (Click here to read PubMed study
abstract.)
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com,
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describing the health benefits of green tea. |
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