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Cognitive function and tea consumption in community dwelling older Chinese in Singapore

  • JNHA: Clinical Neurosciences
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

We aimed to examine the relationship between tea consumption and cognitive function in older adults.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The Singapore Longitudinal Aging Studies (SLAS), a community-based study in urban Singapore.

Participants

716 Chinese adults aged ≥ 55 years.

Measurement

Self-reported current tea consumption habits (frequency and type). Cognitive performance was assessed by a battery of neuropsychological tests; composite domain scores on attention, memory, executive function, and information processing speed were computed using raw test scores. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) total score was used as a measure of global cognitive function.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, total tea consumption was independently associated with better performances on global cognition (B=0.055, SE=0.026, p=0.03), memory (B=0.031, SE=0.012, p=0.01), executive function (B=0.032, SE=0.012, p=0.009), and information processing speed (B=0.04, SE=0.014, p=0.001). Both black/oolong tea and green tea consumption were associated with better cognitive performance. There was no association between coffee consumption and cognitive function.

Conclusions

Tea consumption was associated with better cognitive performance in community-living Chinese older adults. The protective effect of tea consumption on cognitive function was not limited to particular type of tea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gerontological Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Lei Feng, X. Gwee, E. -H. Kua & T. -P. Ng

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Lei Feng, X. Gwee, E. -H. Kua & T. -P. Ng

  3. Gerontological Research Programme, National University of Singapore, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore

    Lei Feng

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  1. Lei Feng
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  2. X. Gwee
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  3. E. -H. Kua
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  4. T. -P. Ng
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Correspondence to Lei Feng.

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Feng, L., Gwee, X., Kua, E.H. et al. Cognitive function and tea consumption in community dwelling older Chinese in Singapore. J Nutr Health Aging 14, 433–438 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0095-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0095-9

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