During Outliers' tenure as a community newspaper reporter, we participated in the journalistic ritual of interviewing women on the occasion of their 100th birthday. One thing those ladies all seemed to have in common was daily consumption of green tea.
Now University of Michigan researchers have found more evidence of the elixir's health-sustaining benefits. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the researchers wrote how it appears that a specific molecule in green tea breaks down and prevents the aggregation of Alzheimer's-associated proteins containing copper, iron and zinc. In a news release, the researchers said they will study its effect on Alzheimer's-related plaque formation next.
In an analysis based on a 2010 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality review, Consumer Reports said it could not recommend any Alzheimer's drug as a “best buy” because they are costly—between $177 and more than $400 a month—and will not relieve symptoms for most people.
