Black Tea and your Brain!

[augie]

I have a relative with Parkinson's Disease. Her Dr. told her to drink black tea. (NOT as a cure, just to drink) I just returned from visiting her, so I haven't had a chance to do any research but wanted to ask the forum and see if anyone else knew of, heard of anything about Black Tea and your brain???

I know many of us experience Cha Qi and I am thinking that it could help someone with a brain disorder even out their dopamine levels. By the time a Parkinson's Victim is asymptomatic, 1/2 of the hypothalamus (that produces dopamine) is dead. Thanks in advance for anything you may have!!! I will start my search tomorrow.

[entropyembrace]

The first thing I think of is that tea has high levels of Theanine which is an amino acid that increases brain levels of serotonin, GABA and dopamine...I don't know why black tea specifically as all types of tea have it in abundance...gyokuro is supposed to have more than most other types, I think because the leaves are shaded sometime before harvest but I could be getting mixed up since I don't know my greens very well.

[kymidwife]

Looks like the research is more about prevention than treatment of existing disease, but interesting nonetheless:

http://www.nni.com.sg/Newsroom/MediaRel ... isease.htm

[augie]

http://www.nni.com.sg/Newsroom/MediaRel ... isease.htm

I will admit that in the last 3 years Black Tea has been lower on my list. Does anyone know what kind of tea would be more likely consumed in Singapore?

Thanks! About 18 months ago there was an article in the Wall Street Journal Medical section about a study of Parkinson's patients. The study found that serious coffee drinkers were half as likely to get Parkinson's as the general population. Smokers were also less likely, although less significant than coffee drinkers. The researchers didn't know if it was the caffeine (nicotine) stimulating the brain, or if it was the "pleasure-seeking" personality type person who was less likely to have the disposition for PD.

The study just said "Black tea" and no specific kind. Does that include shu (cooked) Pu Ehr?

I also saw an interesting story in the news that dancing can alleviate PD symptoms temporarily.

[silverneedles]

black tea?

- bring some caffeine, but not too much as in coffee (as to aggravate agitation, sleep problems)
--- stimulation/keep alert (some PD patients have problems staying alert during the day) ** my main guess.
--- maybe increase dopamine

- neuroprotective (diminish destruction of the dopaminergic neurons)
--- there are trials with substances, vit E didnt work, coenzyme Q10 "worked" (but the study was small, didnt achieve statistic significance-which means you cant say that it worked, tho there was a positive trend)
--- some of the main drugs used for PD (dopamine agonists) are antioxidants and free radical scavengers in lab tests. (as are MAO-B inhibitors, and L-dopa which are also considered somewhat neuroprotective.)
--- the black tea Singapore study: as with the first study that coffee is protective (8000 Japanese men in Hawaii, 100 got PD), you have to be careful not to generalize the results to everybody, as PD is a combination of many factors, environmental and genetic. ** if the tea doc is a neurologist/up to date with studies, he might have recommended the tea due to this study.

[augie]

black tea?

- bring some caffeine, but not too much as in coffee (as to aggravate agitation, sleep problems)
--- stimulation/keep alert (some PD patients have problems staying alert during the day) ** my main guess.
--- maybe increase dopamine

She doesn't particularly have trouble with alertness, however between the disease and the meds, many cause the same side effects! She is trying to retire from a stressful job, presently. I guess "forgetfulness" is more how to describe.

My first thought was the dopamine & what entropyembrace mentioned in her reply. However, green tea has both caffeine (some kinds) and lots of cha qi.

--- some of the main drugs used for PD (dopamine agonists) are antioxidants and free radical scavengers in lab tests. (as are MAO-B inhibitors, and L-dopa which are also considered somewhat neuroprotective.)

However, over time, the body becomes accustomed to c-dopa, L-dopa and Mirapex. However, apparently not black tea! hmmmmmm

-

you have to be careful not to generalize the results to everybody, as PD is a combination of many factors, environmental and genetic. ** if the tea doc is a neurologist/up to date with studies, he might have recommended the tea due to this study.

You're absolutely right Needles! One or two studies does not make it so. However I don't believe anyone can go wrong drinking tea in moderation!

Thanks for the link.