Researchers Call Green Tea Evidenced To Improve The Cognitive Capabilities Of Down Syndrome

JAKARTA - The chemicals in green tea are shown to increase cognitive abilities in people with down syndrome, according to scientists and doctors, as reported by ANTARA. Providing green tea containing epigallocatechin templates, causes an increase in scores in memory and behavior tests, they said in a study published in The Lancet Neurology, as quoted by AFP.

Cerebral scanning results show that the material is capable of changing the way nerves interconnect. A total of 84 adults were involved in clinical trials for a year. They are divided into two groups. One group is given a caffeineless green tea supplement containing 45 percent of the epigallocatechin gate, as well as online cognitive training every week.

The second group received similar training but swallowed a placebo, not that supplement. The subject then performed cognitive tests after three, six and 12 months. There were slight changes even barely in most categories, but for categories of ability to remember patterns, verbal memory, and adaptive behavior of the "green tea" group scored much better. These values continued to increase over time. Those positive results continued for six months after the experiment ended.

"This is the first time a treatment has shown success in increasing cognitive abilities for those suffering from this syndrome," said Mara Dierssen, senior author in the study and researcher at the Center for Genomic Regulation at Barcelona.

While significant, he said in a statement, the result should not be interpreted as "recovered."

"However, it could be a tool to improve their quality of life."

Experts who were not involved in the study called the results encouraging and "important work."

At the same time, they warned that the findings should be validated in additional trials. Down syndrome is a condition of backward physical and mental development caused by genetic disorders and experienced by about one in 1,000 people, according to WHO.