The results of a year-long clinical trial suggests that a chemical found in green tea improves the cognitive ability of people with Down’s syndrome.
According to the study published in The Lancet Neurology, the compound called epigallocatechin gallate changed the way neurons in the brain connect with one another. Based on their findings, the treatment caused improved scores on memory and behaviour tests and the positive impact remained six months after the trial concluded.
In the study, 84 young adults with Down’s syndrome were divided into two groups. While one group was given decaffeinated green tea supplement containing 45 percent epigallocatechin gallate and weekly online cognitive training, the second group received training and took a similar-looking placebo.
After three, six and 12 months, the subjects took cognitive tests. Results revealed that the “green tea” group scored significantly better in terms of the ability to remember patterns, adaptive behaviour and verbal recall. It was also found that the group improved over time.
Mara Dierssen, senior author of the study said: “This is the first time that a treatment has shown efficacy in the cognitive improvement of persons with this syndrome.”
Dierssen emphasized that while the result of the study is significant, it should not be interpreted as a “cure” but as a tool to improve the quality of life of individuals with down’s syndrome.
The researchers behind the study also cautioned that the findings must be validated in additional studies.
Considered as the most common genetic form of intellectual disability, down’s syndrome afflicts about one in 1,000 individuals based on the records of the World Health Organization.
Since the condition is brought about by the presence of an extra or third copy of chromosome number 21. The extra copy causes some of the genes in chromosome 21 to be “over-expressed” and lead to health problems and reduced cognitive abilities.
--Mini, The Summit Express
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| Can drinking green tea help improve the lives of people with Down’s syndrome? |
In the study, 84 young adults with Down’s syndrome were divided into two groups. While one group was given decaffeinated green tea supplement containing 45 percent epigallocatechin gallate and weekly online cognitive training, the second group received training and took a similar-looking placebo.
After three, six and 12 months, the subjects took cognitive tests. Results revealed that the “green tea” group scored significantly better in terms of the ability to remember patterns, adaptive behaviour and verbal recall. It was also found that the group improved over time.
Mara Dierssen, senior author of the study said: “This is the first time that a treatment has shown efficacy in the cognitive improvement of persons with this syndrome.”
Dierssen emphasized that while the result of the study is significant, it should not be interpreted as a “cure” but as a tool to improve the quality of life of individuals with down’s syndrome.
The researchers behind the study also cautioned that the findings must be validated in additional studies.
Considered as the most common genetic form of intellectual disability, down’s syndrome afflicts about one in 1,000 individuals based on the records of the World Health Organization.
Since the condition is brought about by the presence of an extra or third copy of chromosome number 21. The extra copy causes some of the genes in chromosome 21 to be “over-expressed” and lead to health problems and reduced cognitive abilities.
--Mini, The Summit Express
